Here is what you need to know on this Sunday, November 29, the day the Washington Redskins host the New York Giants.

Five final thoughts on Redskins vs. Giants

—Giants left guard Justin Pugh and center Weston Richburg have been ruled out of today’s game, meaning that both teams will be without the left guard and center they started the season with. The Giants will shuffle the interior of their line, flipping right guard Geoff Schwartz from right guard to left, putting John Jerry at right guard, and plugging Dallas Reynolds in a center. I’ve been asked if the Redskins will try to blitz Eli Manning up the middle to try to take advantage of Jerry and Reynolds. I think they will try but Manning gets rid of the ball so quickly that it may be a futile effort. It’s probably better to keep defenders back in coverage.

—The more defenders you have on Odell Beckham Jr. the better. Manning to Beckham is the big edge the visitors will have today. Eventually Scot McCloughan would like to get the types of big, physical cornerbacks who can handle a receiver like Beckham. But today they don’t have anyone. Bashaud Breeland will try to break a string of three straight 100-yard games for the second-year receiver.

—Then again, Kirk Cousins should be able to pick out a target and make some hay all day against a Giants pass defense that is the worst in the NFL in terms of yards allowed. Part of their problem is that they don’t get much of a pass rush; they are tied for last in the NFL with 12 sacks.

—A good possibility for the player to be Cousins’ favorite target today is tight end Jordan Reed. He’s usually the QB’s preferred target anyway but the Giants have seen allowed the second-most fantasy points in the league to tight ends this year. In Week 3 in the Meadowlands this year Reed had his best day of the season in terms of yards gained, with six catches for 96 yards. On a side note, to the surprise of many, Reed was not on the injury report this week after leaving the Panthers game for a while with a knee injury. Perhaps he is learning to take care of himself, a good sign for his longevity in the NFL.

—The Giants are favored by 2.5 points. There is a perception out there that they are really a much better team than their 5-5 record indicates because they led at the two-minute warning in four of their five losses. But in terms of points they have scored 273 and given up 253. When your point differential is roughly equal at this point in the season that means that you are about a .500 team. Their record is no fluke. Giving up late leads also means that their defense isn’t very good. Cousins, Reed, DeSean Jackson, Matt Jones, and the rest should be able to move the ball against them. I’ve been saying the Giants will win all week but the call this morning is to take the Redskins plus the 2.5 with the expectation that they get the outright win in a shootout.

Timeline

—Today’s schedule: Redskins vs. Giants, 1 p.m., FOX

—Days until: Monday night Cowboys @ Redskins 8; Redskins @ Bears 14; Bills @ Redskins 21

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