ReFo: Giants @ Redskins, Week 4

Thursday Night Football is developing a reputation for embarrassing losses.

This time we can thank the Washington Redskins who took an Eli Manning-sized beating at the hands of the New York Giants, where the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback left the Redskins' coverage unit chasing their tails, while the Giants' defensive backs feasted on some poor decision-making courtesy of Kirk Cousins.

The game threatened to get out of hand and eventually did, but there was still a host of performances worth delving into on both sides.

Giants – Performances of Note

Eli Manning, QB: +4.4

Breakdown: What has happened to Eli? In the preseason he looked like a guy who couldn’t hit the a barn door from ten paces, yesterday he looked like he couldn’t miss. He was money on the intermediate throws, going 9-of-12 on those balls that travelled 10-19 yards in the air and looked incredibly composed as the Giants line kept him clean.

Signature Stat: Had an impressive 79.5% Accuracy Percentage score.

Robert Ayers, DL: +4.4

Breakdown: Ayers hasn’t just backfilled a free agency loss, he’s looking like upgrading a key position in the Giants' defense. He doesn’t do an awful lot on early downs, but he’s proving a handful and then some in pass rushing situations from the DRT spot. He ended the day with two hits and a hurry as he went to work on Josh LeRibeus.

Signature Play: Knocks LeRibeus off his feet with 11.45 to go in the game, hurrying and hitting Cousins as he throws a pick.

Weston Richburg, LG: +2.8

Breakdown: Got a Jason Hatcher-style whooping on the first play from scrimmage, but was much better after that. Giants were not shy about using him to pull and after some bad attack angles got in the right position to help the team set up a power running game.

Signature Stat: Two positive games on the bounce after his first two starts, where he looked like a man in over his head.

Redskins – Performances of Note

Kirk Cousins, QB: -5.9

Breakdown: Where do you start? As good as he was at the weekend he was bad tonight, doing a horrible job of reading the coverage and an even worse one when it came to ball security. When you live by the sword you die by it, and he was caught too often going for big plays that were not there. Robert Griffin can sleep easier tonight.

Signature Stat: Three of his picks came when there was no pressure at all.

Ryan Clark, S: +0.1

Breakdown: It’s a little amazing how Clark, who takes more than a share of responsibility for the numerous coverage busts in the secondary, came out on the positive side but he just about does. He owes a debt of gratitude to his own ability to come up quickly on dumps-offs and in the run game, because that was key in his defensive display.

Signature Stat: Led team with four defensive stops.

Josh LeRibeus, LG: -0.3

Breakdown: I’ve spoken about Ayers and the way he had with LeRibeus, but outside of those instances the fill in left guard looked good. Crazy to believe right? Trent Williams got the praise on Alfred Morris’ touchdown run, but it was the reach and seal from LeRibeus that really got the job done.

Signature Play: Alfred Morris gets the touchdown with 13.03 to go in Q3, and it was the reach and seal from LeRibeus that helped put those points on the board.

PFF Game Ball

Making it look easy, Eli Manning is making those doubters of him in this system (amongst whom, I was one) eat their words.

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