The Washington Commanders are kicking off their 2025 season with a home matchup against the New York Giants. Here are three keys to getting a Week 1 win.
**1\. Protect Jayden Daniels.**
The Commanders put in extensive efforts to beef up the protection around Daniels, from trading away picks for one of the best left tackles in football to drafting another offensive tackle who excelled at pass protection at the college level. It's time to get a return on those investments.
The Giants have constructed what many believe to be the best defensive line in the NFL. The most recent addition, the No. 3 overall pick, was regarded as the best overall player in the draft after recording 12 sacks at Penn State, earning him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and a unanimous All-American selection. He is joined by Dexter Lawrence, who had the eighth-best pass rush grade for a defensive tackle from PFF and generated 36 pressures, as well as first-round picks Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The Giants will be eager to unleash that pass rush on a Commanders offense that allowed 50 sacks in 2024, but there is reason to believe Washington is better equipped for the challenge. Laremy Tunsil has allowed a 3.1% pressure rate since 2022, while rookie Josh Conerly Jr. held Carter without a pressure or sacks in their matchup last season.
It should bode well for Washington if they are able to give Daniels as many clean pockets as possible. He ranked third in completion rate among quarterbacks with at least 400 pass attempts when kept clean, throwing 20 touchdowns to five interceptions.