New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 10

The New York Giants face a quick turnaround as they welcome the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football, looking to improve their record and widen the gap in the NFC East.In Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants' defense shone, especially rookie Arvell Reese. The Commanders, meanwhile, fell to the Los Angeles Rams and dropped to 2-5-1 on the season.The Giants opened as slight home favorites on Monday ahead of Thursday night's NFC East showdown. The two teams met in Week 5, when the game ended in a 27-27 tie.With the teams set to face off for the second and final time this season, here are three reasons for optimism for the Giants.Giants pass catchers vs. CommandersIn the last matchup between these teams, the Giants' top two pass catchers delivered strong performances. Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely each recorded 11 receptions, for over 200 receiving yards combined. The Giants will need similar success through the air, as their rushing attack struggled in Week 9 against the Eagles.Dennard Wilson's defense is getting after the quarterbackThe Giants rank third in the NFL in blitz rate this season. The defense is coming off one of its best games, with Arvell Reese shining with a three-sack performance as the unit held the Eagles to just 11 points. The Giants totaled 7.0 sacks on Sunday, and a similar effort against Jayden Daniels on Thursday night would go a long way toward securing a win.Skattebo's returnThe Giants struggled to run the ball on Sunday, with much of the blame falling on an offensive line dominated by the Eagles' defensive front. They should get a much-needed lift with Cam Skattebo expected back in the lineup, improving their chances of success on the ground. Skattebo was benched last month after fumbling in overtime during the first matchup against the Commanders, costing the Giants a game-winning field goal attempt. He is poised to bring much-needed energy to the offense on Thursday night.This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 10