Fact or Fiction: X-factors for offense, defense

John Schmeelk: Fact – The Commanders’ offense in Week 1 was very simple. They wanted to run the ball on early downs (62% rush rate on first down, second-highest in the NFL). They wanted Daniels to get the ball out of his hands quickly on short passes. When Daniels threw the ball, he had the league’s lowest average time to throw (2.26 seconds) and he had the league’s second-lowest average depth of target (5.6 yards). He completed only one pass that traveled 10 yards in the air, and none that traveled more than 15. When his first read wasn’t there, he quickly turned himself into a runner where he had a lot of success, finishing with 88 yards. His 16 carries were split almost evenly between scrambles and the designed quarterback run game. All four of the Commanders runs of 10+ yards came from Daniels. He led the team in yards from scrimmage and is probably the team’s fastest player.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – Football is simple but never easy. The Giants need to find a way to put the ball in the end zone any way they can. Something will have to give this week. The Buccaneers scored 37 points on Washington (the second-highest total in the NFL) in Week 1 while the Giants scored a league-low six points last Sunday.

Matt Citak: Fact – Daniels led the Commanders in rush attempts (16), rushing yards (88), yards per carry (5.5.) and touchdowns (two) in the season opener. Perhaps more importantly, most of that production came on scrambles and not designed runs. Daniels scrambled on 23.5 percent of his drop-backs, the sixth-highest rate by any quarterback in a game since 2022. Seventy-nine of his yards and six first downs came on scrambles, while the rookie did not attempt a single pass while scrambling. When he moves out of the pocket, the rookie is going to keep it himself and run with the football. Limiting these scramble runs has to be the defense’s top priority in Week 2.

John Schmeelk: Fact – Whether it is Thibodeaux or Brian Burns, the Giants should have some opportunities to get after the quarterback. Jayden Daniels is the other factor here. The speed at which he was getting the ball out last week combined with his mobility might make it very hard for any of the Giants pass rushers to get home this week.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Sometimes teams just have an opponent’s number. The same can be true for players. But it is going to be a challenge to contain and then take down Jayden Daniels, whom Thibodeaux and the Giants will see for the first time.

Matt Citak: Fact – Thibodeaux’s numbers against the Commanders are impressive. The third-year edge rusher’s most productive outings have come against the division rival, with 5.5 of his 15.5 career sacks occurring vs. Washington. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see both of the Giants’ pass rushers – Thibodeaux and Brian Burns – get into the sack column this Sunday.