The New York Giants open the 2025 regular season schedule with a trip down to the Nation’s Capital to face their old rivals, the Washington Commanders.
Here are six things to know before Sunday afternoon’s kickoff.
The series
This marks the 187th meeting between the Giants and the Washington franchise, dating back to 1932 when the team was known as the Braves. The Giants lead the regular season series 107-72-5. The teams faced each other twice in the postseason. Washington won the 1943 divisional round game, 28-0. The Giants beat the Redskins, 17-0, in the 1987 NFC Championship Game en route to their first Super Bowl title.
Last season, Washington swept the season series. They defeated the Giants at home, 21-18, in Week 2 at Northwest Stadium. They won again, 27-22, in Week 9 at MetLife Stadium.
This will be the fourth time Washington opens the regular season against the Giants, and the first time since 2011. They are 2-1 in those previous three matchups.
New faces
The Giants have a brand new quarterback room with veterans Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart. First-round pick, linebacker Abdul Carter, will make his NFL debut in this game.
Other rookies of note: Running back Cam Skattebo, tight end Thomas Fidone II, offensive lineman Marcus Mbow, defensive lineman Darius Alexander, and wide receiver Beaux Collins.
Also making their Gians’ debut: Safety Jevon Holland, cornerback Paulson Adebo, and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris.
Debuting for the Commanders will be their first-round pick, right tackle Josh Conerly Jr., and several other rookies: Cornerback Trey Amos, running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and wide receiver Jaylin Layne. Also making their Commanders’ debut: Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, linebacker Von Miller, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
Russell Wilson versus Jayden Daniels
This game pits one of the NFL’s most accomplished quarterbacks in Russell Wilson, up against Jayden Daniels, one of the game’s fastest-rising stars.
Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion, played last season in Pittsburgh, and this will be his 200th career NFL start. Wilson ranks third among active players with 46,135 pass yards and 350 touchdown passes. He has a 90-plus rating in 12 of his 13 career seasons. Last November against Washington, he passed for three touchdowns versus one interception for a 93.6 rating in the Steelers’ 28-27 victory.
Daniels became just the third quarterback in NFL history to win 12 games as a rookie last year in leading the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, and had the highest completion percentage (69.0) and the most rushing yards (891) ever by a qualified rookie quarterback. Daniels threw two or more touchdown passes in each of his final four home starts.
In his two games against the Giants last season, Daniels completed 74.5 percent of his passes (38-of-51) for a total of 435 yards with two touchdowns and no picks for a QB rating of 112.8. He also rushed 18 times for 79 yards.
“Scary Terry” is back
The Commanders’ top wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, ended his contract dispute with the team last month by agreeing to a three-year, $96 million extension. That’s good news for Washington and bad news for the Giants.
In 11 career games versus Big Blue, “Scary Terry” has tormented the Giants with 824 yards on 69 catches (74.9 yards per game) with five touchdowns.
McLaurin had a franchise-record 13 receiving touchdowns last season, including two against the Giants. He is one of four players ever with 75-plus receptions and 1,000-plus receiving yards. yards in five of his first six career seasons.
With 171 receiving yards, McLaurin would pass Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Monk for the most receiving yards in a player’s first seven seasons in franchise history (6,551).
Players to Watch: Giants
Outside of the new faces we mentioned, keep an eye on these returning players.
For the Giants, second-year safety Tyler Nubin, who led all NFL rookies with 98 tackles last year, is ready to pop. Four other second-year players — tight end Theo Johnson, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., cornerback Dru Phillips, and, of course, wide receiver Malik Nabers — all have massive upsides.
Players to Watch: Commanders
Washington cornerback Mike Sainristil led all rookies with 14 passes defensed and ranked second behind Nubin with 90 tackles in 2024. Linebacker Frankie Luvu had 99 tackles last season, 12 for a loss, and had career highs in sacks (8) and passes defensed (7). He is one of two NFL players with 20-plus sacks (21), 40-plus tackles for a loss (41), and 15-plus passes defensed (16) since 2022. Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt is the other.
Commanders running back Austin Ekeler is one of two NFL players (New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara is the other) with 300-plus rushing yards and 300-plus receiving yards in each of the past seven seasons. He needs two touchdowns to become the third undrafted player since 1967 with 75-plus career scrimmage touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: 6 things to know about Week 1 matchup
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
