Two NFC East cellar-dwellers collide in a Week 15 matchup with massive implications for the 2026 draft order, as the 3-10 Washington Commanders visit the 2-11 New York Giants on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Both teams enter on brutal skids—Washington with eight straight losses, New York with seven—turning this into a desperate bid for pride and positioning. The Giants, hosting at MetLife, lean on rookie QB Jaxson Dart’s mobility (11 pass TD, 7 rush TD in eight starts) against a Commanders secondary that’s allowed 261.7 pass yds/g (26th), while Washington’s run game (136.5 ypg, 4th) tests New York’s leaky front (154.2 rush yds/g allowed, 30th). Jayden Daniels’ elbow limits him to backup duty behind Marcus Mariota, who mirrors the rookie’s dual-threat style. Expect a sloppy, high-turnover affair (both teams -11 and -7 differentials), but the Giants’ home edge and pass rush could tip the scales. Win sims: Giants 55% (per models).
Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET.
Broadcast: FOX: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Megan Olivi (field reporter)
Streaming on NFL+ ($6.99/mo) and YouTube TV. Pregame coverage at 12:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.
Venue Location: MetLife Stadium, 50 State Highway 120, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 (40°48’45″N 74°04’24″W). This 82,500-seat behemoth—shared with the Jets since 2010—boasts a massive HD board and premium lounges, but its open-air design amplifies December chills for a gritty atmosphere.
Weather Updates
A typical mid-December Northeast chill sets the stage for a defensive-minded grind at MetLife, with light winds minimally impacting play. Game-time forecast: 34°F with partly cloudy skies (10% precipitation chance, possible trace flurries) and east winds at 7 mph (gusts to 10 mph), yielding wind chills around 25-28°F. Humidity 60%, visibility excellent. Impacts: Favors short passes and runs (+12% rush efficiency in <40°F per NFL data); Giants 3-2 home in similar conditions, Commanders 1-4 road cold. No delays expected—layer up for tailgates.
Injury Report
Both squads are battered, with Washington’s QB room and Giants’ trenches hit hardest, forcing rotations that could swing the trenches. Updates as of Thursday, December 11 (via NFL.com; Friday reports pending).
Washington Commanders:
Out/DNP: DE Drake Jackson (groin/knee), CB Jonathan Jones (rib), LB Bobby Wagner (knee).
Limited: QB Jayden Daniels (left elbow—limited, backup role; Mariota starts), RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin—DNP Wed, limited Thu; monitor for snaps), TE Zach Ertz (undisclosed, out per trends).
Full: WR Noah Brown (groin/knee), OT George Fant (knee).
Impact: Daniels’ elbow sidelines the rookie star (3,200+ est. yds), thrusting Mariota (solid 6 starts, 35.7 rush ypg) into focus; Rodriguez’s groin thins backfield (team 4th rush), boosting McNichols/Croskey-Merritt. Secondary vulnerable sans Jones.
New York Giants:
Out/DNP: DL D.J. Davidson (illness), OLB Victor Dimukeje (knee), P Jamie Gillan (left knee), CB Nic Jones (shoulder), DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (ankle), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder).
Limited: WR Gunner Olszewski (concussion—DNP Wed, limited Thu), G Greg Van Roten (shoulder—DNP Wed, limited Thu), S Tyler Nubin (quad—limited).
Full: None new.
Impact: Thibodeaux’s shoulder guts pass rush (team 22nd sacks); punter Gillan out forces rookie; secondary depth tested sans Jones/Nubin. OL holds if Van Roten plays.
Full practices Thursday; no major QB flags (Dart/Mariota cleared).
Player Matchups
This bottom-of-the-barrel brawl turns on rookie development and trench survival, with Dart’s legs vs. Washington’s depleted D a wildcard. Key clashes:
QB Marcus Mariota (WAS) vs. Giants Pass Rush (Brian Burns/Abdul Carter): Mariota (mirrors Daniels’ style, 35.7 rush ypg) faces Burns (13 sacks, career-high) and rookie Carter—Giants 22nd in sacks but 6th-most QB fantasy pts allowed. WAS OL 28th (24 sacks allowed).
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) vs. Giants Front 7 (Dexter Lawrence/Foyesade Oluokun): Rodriguez (372 yds, 4 TD; 5.2 ypc last week) exploits NYG’s 30th run D (154.2 ypg allowed). WAS 4th rush vs. Giants’ gap issues sans Thibodeaux.
WR Terry McLaurin (WAS) vs. CB Deonte Banks/Andru Phillips: McLaurin (top target, 74 yds last outing) vs. Banks’ coverage (10 PD); Phillips slots but concussion-limited.
QB Jaxson Dart (NYG) vs. Commanders Secondary (Benjamin St-Juste/Daron Payne echo): Dart (70% comp. relief, 139 yds/1 TD Week 13) carves WAS’s 26th pass D (261.7 ypg). Commanders blitz light sans Wagner.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG) vs. Commanders Front (Jonathan Allen/Dt. Chase Young trade fallout): Tracy (versatile, 71 yds last) grinds vs. WAS’s 10th run D (107.1 ypg allowed, but Oliver out).
Giants Defense Edge: Burns/Lawrence duo pressures Mariota; WAS -11 TO differential vs. NYG’s -7.
Team Records
| Team | Record | Division | Playoff Odds | Key Stats |
| Commanders | 3-10 (.231) | 3rd NFC East | 0% | 20.2 PPG (24th), 27.2 OPP PPG (28th), 344.9 TOT YPG (15th) |
| Giants | 2-11 (.154) | 4th NFC East | 0% | 18.5 PPG (30th), 28.1 OPP PPG (30th), 329.3 TOT YPG (25th) |
Commanders: 3-2 start derailed by 8-game skid. Giants: 2-8 under Daboll, 0-5 div.
Recent Form
Washington Commanders (0-5 in last 5): Eight-game collapse with QB instability (Daniels elbow); offense sputters (316.4 ypg last 5), D leaky (398 ypg allowed).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 7 | @ MIN | L 0-31 | Shutout; Mariota 200 yds/0 TD, 3 TO. |
| Nov 30 | vs DEN | L 26-27 | Rodriguez 52 yds; 47.1% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 16 | @ MIA | L 13-16 | Daniels limited, 46.2% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 9 | vs DET | L 22-44 | 20% 3rd-down; D yields 546 yds. |
| Nov 2 | vs SEA | L 14-38 | 46.2% 3rd-down; 290 TOT yds. |
New York Giants (0-5 in last 5): Seven straight Ls with Dart’s return sparking hope (99.1 rating Week 13); D holds but offense anemic (18.5 PPG season).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 1 | @ NE | L 15-33 | Dart 139 yds/1 TD; 36.4% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 23 | @ DET | L 27-34 | 50% 3rd-down; Tracy 71 yds. |
| Nov 16 | vs GB | L 20-27 | 50% 3rd-down; 336 TOT yds. |
| Nov 9 | @ CHI | L 20-24 | 35.7% 3rd-down; 431 TOT yds. |
| Nov 2 | vs SF | L 24-34 | 41.7% 3rd-down; D allows 380 yds. |
Series History
Giants lead the all-time series 108-74-5 (187 meetings, including 2 playoffs), but Commanders own recent dominance (8-2 last 10, including 3 straight wins: 21-6 on 9/7/25, 27-22 on 11/3/24, 21-18 on 9/15/24). Avg. score: NYG 22.2-19.0 WAS. Trend: Close (7/10 <7 pts); O/U: O 6-4 last 10. December: Giants 4-3 SU home vs. WAS. Playoffs: Split 1-1 (NYG 1981 NFC Wild Card, WAS 1983 NFC Div).
Betting Trends
Bettors lean Giants (62% bets, 68% handle), firming spread from -2 open to -2.5 amid NYG’s draft motivation. Over draws 58% action at 46.5 (O 6-4 series last 10; both 4-9 O season). Commanders +2.5 sees sharp support (35% high-limits) as dogs (4-9 ATS, 3-2 road); Giants 5-8 ATS home. WAS 1-4 ATS last 5 road; X sentiment: 55% pro-Giants post-injury clarity. Stable; watch Rodriguez for total drift.
Predicted Score: New York Giants 24, Washington Commanders 20
COMMANDERS NOTES:
• QB JAYDEN DANIELS has TD pass in 2 of his past 3 games on road. Passed for 233 yards & TD in Week 1 meeting. • QB MARCUS MARIOTA played in 100th career game in Week 14. Has TD pass in 6 of his 7 starts this season. Had TD in last game vs. NYG (1/7/24, w/ Phi.). • RB CHRIS RODRIGUEZ aims for 3rd in row on road with 50+ scrimmage yards. Rushed for 52 yards in last game vs. NYG (11/3/24). • RB JACORY CROSKEY-MERRITT ranks 6th among rookies with 550 rush yards & tied-7th with 4 rush TDs in 2025. Rushed for 82 yards & TD in Week 1 meeting, his 1st career-game. • WR TERRY MCLAURIN has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 games. Has 50+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4. Ranks 6th in NFC with 6,719 rec. yards since 2019. • WR DEEBO SAMUEL had 77 rec. yards in Week 1 meeting & aims for 3rd in row vs. NYG with 75+ rec. yards. • LB BOBBY WAGNER led team with season-high 16 tackles & had sack in Week 14. Has 7+ tackles in 13 games this season, longest active streak. Ranks 3rd with 131 tackles in 2025. Had 10 tackles & TFL in Week 1 meeting & has TFL in 4 of his past 5 games vs. NYG. • LB VON MILLER had sack in Week 14 & has sack in 2 of his past 3 games. Aims for 3rd in row on road with sack. • LB FRANKIE LUVU had PD in Week 14 & aims for 3rd in row with PD. • DT DARON PAYNE had sack in Week 14 & sack in Week 1 meeting. • CB MIKE SAINRISTIL had 5 tackles, TFL & PD last week. Has 5+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 games. • CB JONATHAN JONES had season-high 2 PD in Week 14. • S QUAN MARTIN had 7 tackles in Week 14. Aims for 3rd in row with 7+ tackles. • S WILL HARRIS had 1st sack of season last week. Has PD in 2 of his past 3 games. Had FF in Week 1 meeting.
GIANTS NOTES:
• QB JAXSON DART completed 17 of 24 att. for 139 yards & TD for 99.1 rating in Week 13. Is 3rd rookie in NFL history with TD pass & rush TD in 5 games. Has TD pass in 7 of his past 8 games. Leads all rookie QBs with 11 TD passes & 94.1 rating in 2025. • RB DEVIN SINGLETARY had season-high 102 scrimmage yards (68 rush yards, 34 rec.) & had rush TD in Week 13. Has 40+ rush yards in 4 of his past 5 & rush TD in 2 of his past 3. • WR DARIUS SLAYTON has 1st TD catch of season in Week 13. Has 40+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4. • WR WAN’DALE ROBINSON has 6+ receptions in 4 of his past 5 & 45+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 at home. Aims for 250th career reception (249). • TE THEO JOHNSON has career-high 456 rec. yards & 5 TD catches in 2025. Ranks 2nd in NFL among 1st & 2nd year TEs with 787 rec. yards since 2024. • LB ABDUL CARTER (rookie) had sack in Week 13 & had half sack in Week 1 meeting. • LB BOBBY OKEREKE had 7 tackles in Week 13 & aims for 4th in row with 7+ tackles. Ranks 10th in NFL with 110 tackles this season. Had season-high 16 tackles in Week 1 meeting. • LB ZAIRE BARNES led team with career-high 11 tackles & had 1st career sack in Week 13. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL. • DL BRIAN BURNS ranks 2nd in NFL with career-high 13 sacks in 2025. Has TFL in 12 of his past 13 games & ranks 3rd with 18 TFL this season. Had 6 tackles & 2 sacks in Week 1 meeting. • CB PAULSON ADEBO had 10 tackles & PD in Week 13. Has 7+ tackles in 2 of his past 3. Had 7 tackles & PD in Week 1 meeting. • CB DRU PHILLIPS had 2 PD in Week 13. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3 at home. • S DANE BELTON had 7 tackles, sack & PD in Week 13. Aims for 4th in row with 7+ tackles & 3rd in row with TFL & PD.
Game Odds
Washington Commanders 46.5
New York Giants – 2.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
