Washington at New York

The New York Giants really thought that the disruption that occurred over the Plaxico Burress incident would be a net positive, but in the end the Giants offense really took a huge step back without him. In 2008 they couldn't lose with Burress in the lineup and couldn't win without him. Eli Manning has yet to show he's an elite quarterback (terrible 55% lifetime completion percentage) and without someone like Plax, he's proving to be average at best. The Giants can run the ball, but if the passing game is leaking oil due to lack of quality receivers, the running game could take a step back as well. Many don't remember, but the Redskins' defense was good in 2008 - ranked fourth best in the league! And, the defense improved in a huge way with the addition of Albert Haynesworth. This guy WAS the Titans defense a year ago. The Giants may be a bit overrated this season and the Skins perhaps a bit underrated, so looking at nearly a TD spread makes the Skins look like the valued choice here. This has been a road team oriented series of late with the visitor grabbing the cash in four of the last five and, the Skins are 29-13 ATS the past 17 years as a road underdog of 3.5 to 7 points. Division rivalry games are typically hard fought affairs and the Skins did more to improve themselves than the Giants this offeseaon. I like them to hang around in this one and will go with Washington here.