The New York Giants (0-0) and Washington Commanders (0-0) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 1 matchup at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

The Giants opened the week as 6-point road underdogs, and as of this writing, that’s precisely where the line remains.

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With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Commanders Wire managing editor Bryan Manning.

What are the expectations for Jayden Daniels entering Year 2, and how can he avoid the C.J. Stroud lull?

Manning: I think Jayden is different. I think, as a team, Washington will take a step back, yet be a better team if that makes sense. Remember, last year was Year 1 of a rebuild. Daniels, several veterans, and a good coaching staff just sped up the trajectory. I don’t see Daniels taking a step back. I figure he’ll scale back his rushing numbers a bit, but I think he’ll hit the 4K mark in passing yards.

After his lengthy contract standoff, is there any concern about Terry McLaurin’s readiness for Week 1?

Yes. Terry says no, but he was practicing for two weeks before the first game. There has to be some concern there. Terry is a pro’s pro; being in shape was never a concern, but the football conditioning aspect is real. I don’t think he plays limited snaps, but you never know. It’s an unknown until he takes the field.

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Is there any concern for Josh Conerly going against a fierce pass rush in his first NFL game?

Yes. I believe Conerly will be a stud eventually. He looked lost early in camp and made huge strides in just a matter of weeks. That’s what you want to see. Conerly handled Abdul Carter pretty well in their college meeting, but it’s different now. He’ll be facing several talented pass rushers. Mistakes are going to be made. This is definitely a matchup to watch.

What will Washington’s ground game look like following the trade of Brian Robinson?

I don’t think anyone will notice. Weirdly enough, Robinson’s best games came against the Giants, and the one year, Eric Bieniemy wasn’t smart enough to keep using him, instead choosing to try and break an NFL passing attempts record with a QB who wasn’t ready. Robinson was a good, solid runner. Strong. However, his hesitation sometimes left yards on the field.

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The Commanders love the group they have now. While the hype is around rookie Bill Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez is a good, quality NFL running back. Ekeler is Ekeler. We know what he can do. I figure Rodriguez leads them in carries on Sunday. He’s similar to Robinson in style, with better vision and less hesitation.

How do you see Week 1 playing out? Who wins on Sunday, and what’s the score?

I think we are in store for another close Washington/New York game. Nothing tells me any different. I think it comes down to the wire. I believe the Commanders will have some issues against the Giants’ D. I also think Washington’s defense will be better than people think. Ultimately, it comes down to the fourth quarter, and I think Jayden helps Washington win its home opener. Commanders 24, Giants 20.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: Behind Enemy Lines