Giants at Redskins: Gone, But Never Forgotten

New York Giants (10-1) at Washington Redskins (7-4)
1:00 p.m. FedEx Field
It’s a good thing that I have to keep this short since I’m literally out the door on the way to my Thanksgiving vacation. This is still not an easy subject to talk about. For those not aware, it will be the one-year anniversary of the Sean Taylor shooting on Thanksgiving Day. From helping cover the Redskins as part of my real job, I can assure you that there is still a major hole at Redskins Park. It’s still not the same out there, and it will take a completely new roster of players before the pain that his loss has caused will start going away.

I was there last December for the Buffalo game. It was a very emotional pre-game ceremony that was well done by the Redskins organization. The finale, which was a video tribute they put on the big board, left very few dry eyes. People who I work with who were in the press box with me, some of whom I considered cold and heartless media veterans, were bawling. It was not an easy scene to take in that day and it was not an easy game to watch.

I have a feeling that this game against the Giants won’t be much easier. The Redskins will induct Taylor into the Ring of Honor. I’m sure there will be many pre-game tributes both on the field and on the video board. Even though it is a great honor to see Taylor’s name go up where it belongs, for me personally, it will be very tough to go through this again.

Anyway, I know most of you don’t want to, or most of you don’t care, but you should take a quick moment this Thanksgiving and pray for Sean. Also, think of Sean’s father Pedro (Pete), who I had the good fortune to meet in January. As you can imagine, he’s still heartbroken over the loss of his son, and will be for the remainder of his life. So as depressing as it might be, just remember when you are giving thanks this year, that there are good people out there who aren’t as fortunate as you.

As for the game, it is pretty much meaningless in terms of the NFC East. The Giants will probably lose once more, maybe twice. The division is theirs. The worst they will be is 13-3 unless they have a bunch of injuries to major players in the next couple of weeks. And this game is no longer that important to the Redskins. All they have to do is take their last three games against the Bengals, whatever’s left of the Eagles and 49ers to get 10 wins. And if they split one of the next two, they’ll be 11-5 and almost guaranteed a wild-card spot. I would like to beat the Giants since they are the Giants and I hate losing to division opponents. Plus, the Buffalo game last year did not end well (maybe one of the toughest losses the organization has ever had), and I think the players owe it to Sean to take care of business against the Giants this season.

The rest of the tryptophan addition:
Overall record: 100-64-1 (10-5 last week)
Vs. Spread: 82-78-5 (9-6 last week)
Home teams in bold, please don’t gamble, yada yada yada.

THURSDAY

Titans (10-1)(-11) over Lions (0-11)
Cowboys (7-4)(-12) over Seahawks (2-9)
Eagles (5-5-1)(-3) over Cardinals (7-4)
-Andy Reid’s last stand, plus the Cardinals still stink on the East Coast

SUNDAY

Ravens (7-4)(-7) over Bengals (1-9-1)
Bills (6-5)(-7) over 49ers (3-8)
-another West Coast team on the East Coast, take the Bills
Saints (6-5)(+3.5) over Buccaneers (8-3)
Panthers (8-3)(+3) over Packers (5-6)
Dolphins (6-5)(-7.5) over Rams (2-9)
-no more picking the Rams this season, I swear
Colts (7-4)(-4.5) over Browns (4-7)
Chargers (4-7)(-5) over Falcons (7-4)
-East Coast team on the West Coast, that’s why San Diego’s favored
Steelers (8-3)(+1) over Patriots (7-4)
Jets (8-3) over Broncos (6-5), Broncos cover (+8)
Raiders (3-8)(-3) over Chiefs (1-10)
Vikings (6-5)(-3.5) over Bears (6-5)

MONDAY

Jaguars (4-7)(+3.5) over Texans (4-7)