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One NFC East team will push its record to .500 in Week 2 of the 2024-25 NFL season when the New York Giants head south to take on the rival Washington Commanders at FedEx Field.
The Commanders opened the Dan Quinn/Jayden Daniels era with a 37-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Daniels ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, completed 17 of 24 passes for 184 passing yards and did not turn the ball over.
The Giants, meanwhile, looked dreadful on offense in Daniel Jones’ return from injury, posting just 240 yards and six points in a 28-6 home loss to Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings. New York, which finished 30th in scoring last year at 15.6 points per game, ranks dead last in points after Week 1.
Not surprisingly, the Giants have the second-longest Super Bowl odds (+35000) at FanDuel, while Washington sits 28th (+20000). Both teams are longshots to win the NFC East as well at +2600 and +1900, respectively.
With that in mind, let’s look at how this divisional game is shaping up at our favorite NFL betting sites.
Game Details
- Matchup: New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 (Week 2)
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: FedEx Field (Landover, Maryland)
- Watch: FOX
Odds Summary
- Moneyline: Giants +102, Commanders -120
- Spread: Giants +1.5 (-114), Commanders -1.5 (-106)
- Total: Over/Under 42.5 (-115/-105)
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook and subject to change.
Giants vs. Commanders Moneyline
Somehow the Giants seem to own FedEx Field. Despite six losing seasons in their past seven, New York has won five of its last six visits to Washington, including their most recent meeting last November.
Overall, the Giants are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games against the Commanders and enter this matchup on a three-game winning streak.
Washington is one of the few teams that Jones has beaten consistently throughout his career. He’s 5-1-1 against the Commanders with a 69.7% completion rate and a 10:3 TD/INT ratio, including 3-1 at FedEx Field.
It’s possible that Daniels will break loose against New York’s suspect secondary and linebackers, but Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and the rest of the Giants’ defense may very well speed up the rookie’s timing, creating turnovers and sacks.
Given New York’s recent success in this rivalry and more experienced quarterback, I’ll take the Giants on the moneyline at plus odds.
Giants vs. Commanders Spread
If you think Washington will win, taking it to cover -1.5 is a no-brainer at more favorable odds than the moneyline. Meanwhile, taking New York to cover +1.5 seems fruitless, even though its only loss at FedEx Field in the past six years came by a single point.
That’s because most NFL games are decided by at least three points (a field goal). All 16 games in Week 1 were decided by at least two points.
If you’d rather take the Giants to cover the spread, wait for the spread to move or potentially try an alternate spread of +2.5 or +3 to get more protection, especially as a parlay leg.
We like New York to cover the spread, but betting on an outright win at plus money would be more profitable.
Giants vs. Commanders Total
These teams combined for just 26 total points in Week 1, with 13 of the Commanders’ 20 coming in the second half after they managed just one touchdown in the first half.
Washington’s defense had a rough day against Baker Mayfield & Co., surrendering the second-most points and seventh-most total yards in Week 1. Luckily for them, the Giants’ offense doesn’t seem capable of scoring against any team, despite surrounding Jones with talented young receivers like rookie Malik Nabers and second-year wideout Jalin Hyatt.
Both defenses allowed over 100 rushing yards in Week 1, so both offenses may look to run the ball here. That could make this a slow, low-scoring game where points are at a premium.
Take the Under.
Giants vs. Commanders Props
Zach Ertz Over 22.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
Ertz surpassed this number in his Commanders debut last week, hauling in three catches on four targets for 28 yards. Furthermore, the veteran tight end has dominated New York throughout his career, racking up 863 receiving yards in 14 games against them (61.6 yards per game).
Granted, most of that production came earlier in his career while he was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. But with Daniels likely to run the RPO and Ertz finding holes in the middle of the field, he should easily surpass 22 receiving yards on Sunday and cash the Over on this prop bet, especially if Washington falls behind early again and has to throw the ball.
Malik Nabers Anytime Touchdown (+155)
The Commanders got shredded through the air in Week 1, allowing 280 passing yards (fourth-most) and four passing touchdowns (most).
That makes this an exploitable matchup for Nabers, who looked solid in his NFL debut. The rookie wideout caught five passes on seven targets, leading Giants receivers with 66 receiving yards.
It’s tough to advocate for any individual to score in a game you think will be low-scoring. But given Nabers’ pedigree (he was the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft), his instant rapport with Jones and the favorable matchup, he’s a good bet to find the end zone this week at plus odds.
Giants vs. Commanders Best Bets Summary
- Moneyline: Giants (+102). The G-Men play better in Landover than they do anywhere else. Look for Jones to make some plays and get his team in the win column.
- Spread: Giants +1.5 (-114). We think New York will win this game, in which case it would automatically cover the spread.
- Total: Under 42.5 (-105). Both teams are brutal offensively and stout enough for the defenses to make this game a little ugly. We’ll be shocked if either offense tops 20 points.
- Prop 1: Zach Ertz Over 22.5 Receiving Yards (-114). Ertz has dominated the Giants in his career and will be a security blanket for Daniels all season. Plus, 27 yards is a low bar to clear.
- Prop 2: Malik Nabers Anytime Touchdown (+155). Nabers showed an instant connection with Jones last week and could cross the pylons against a porous secondary that allowed four touchdowns last week.