Redskins slap around hapless Giants in opener

Redskins 28
Giants 14

Giants fans, now you can panic!

After a horrid pre-season that saw the Giants lose seven players for the year to injury, as well as lose the availability of Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora to nagging injuries, the Giants went out and played like trash in their regular season opener against the Redskins.

Rex Grossman looked like Joe Theisman as he threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns against the banged-up Giants secondary. The Giants feared that the loss of Terrell Thomas would have a big impact on the play of their secondary and it clearly did since the Giants couldn't find a way to bat a ball down, couldn't find a way to cause an interception, and couldn't cover a receiver if their lives depended on it.

After the Giants grabbed a 14-7 lead on a Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown, the Redskins stormed back to tie the game before halftime. Grossman hit Jabar Gaffney for 39 yards to spot the ball at the Giants 15 yard line. Then, on the next play, Grossman hit Anthony Armstrong for the touchdown.

Things didn't get any better for Big Blue in the second half. On, third down and 10 at the Giants 18, the game changed forever when Manning's pass was tipped into the air and picked off by Ryan Kerrigan who stumbled and bumbled his way to the end zone for the go-ahead score.

Fed Ex Field was the loudest it had been in years as the Redskins defense smothered the Giants. They held the Giants to 15 first downs and 75 yards rushing on the entire afternoon. Whenever the Giants tried to make something happen, a Redskins defender was there to make the tackle or break up the play, drawing loud roars from the hungry Redskins crowd.

The Giants best opportunity to get back into the game came in the fourth quarter after Grossman was stripped of the football by Jason Pierre Paul. The Giants were in business at the Skins 27; however, the Giants just couldn't handle the change in momentum. The Giants went three and out on the drive and had to settle for a field goal, which was blocked at the line, giving Washington the football at the 30.

The Redskins shoved it right down the Giants collective throat as Grossman drove the ball down field and completed a four yard touchdown to Gaffney to ice the contest.

For the Giants, this was a huge loss. Of course, this game became harder to win when they received the news that Justin Tuck would not play with the stinger in his neck, but, for Big Blue, this was a game they had to win.

There is not much confidence in this Giants team this year, and they needed to get off to a fast start. It didn't happen, and the schedule is only going to get harder. This could get ugly.