As the Washington Commanders prepare to open their 2025 season at home against the New York Giants, a critical matchup looms in the trenches. The key to securing a Week 1 victory will be the performance of Washington’s newly fortified offensive line against one of the league’s most formidable defensive fronts.
Key to Victory: Protecting Jayden Daniels
Washington made significant offseason investments to bolster protection for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, trading for elite left tackle Laremy Tunsil and drafting Josh Conerly Jr., an offensive tackle who excelled in pass blocking at the college level. These moves will be immediately tested by a Giants defensive line that many consider the best in the NFL.
New York’s pass rush is spearheaded by established first-round talents Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, anchored by Dexter Lawrence, who ranked eighth among defensive tackles in PFF’s pass-rush grade last season with 36 pressures. The group was further strengthened by the addition of the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, a unanimous All-American from Penn State who recorded 12 sacks and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
While the Giants will be keen to unleash this unit against a Commanders offense that surrendered 50 sacks last season, Washington is now better equipped to handle the pressure. Tunsil has maintained an impressive 3.1% pressure rate since 2022, and in a college matchup last year, Conerly Jr. did not allow a single pressure or sack against top prospect Chop Robinson.
Keeping Daniels upright is paramount. When operating from a clean pocket, he ranked third in completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least 400 pass attempts, throwing for 20 touchdowns against just five interceptions. If the Commanders’ new-look offensive line can neutralize the Giants’ pass rush, it will pave the way for their young quarterback to succeed.
