Commanders at Giants on Thursday Night Football: McCarthy Starts With Dart Out, and a Tie to Settle

The first game of NFL Week 10 comes with a rematch attached. The Washington Commanders visit the New York Giants on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, kickoff 8:15 p.m. Eastern (1:15 a.m. on Friday in London), streaming on Prime Video, per CBS Sports' schedule and ESPN's game page. The teams played to a 27-27 overtime tie in Washington on 11 October.

This preview is written ahead of kickoff and knows nothing of the result.

What is at stake for the Giants and Commanders?

New York is 5-2-1 and leads the NFC East, while Washington is 2-5-1 and 0-3 on the road, according to ESPN. The Associated Press preview says Washington's playoff hopes are fading and its players regard most remaining games as must-wins. Offensive lineman Sam Cosmi said the team must stay in the hunt, and Giants coach John Harbaugh called the rematch a tiebreaker game after the tie.

The Giants have won three of their last five, with the results on ESPN's page running from a 19-11 win at Philadelphia last week to a 36-24 win over Arizona. Washington lost 20-13 to the Rams on its last outing and has not won a Thursday night game since 2022. New York leads the all-time series 108-75-6, but Washington won the four meetings before this year's tie.

Who is playing quarterback for the Giants?

J.J. McCarthy, who arrived in a late-September trade from Minnesota, is set to make his first home start. He hurt his right hip at Philadelphia on Sunday, finished the game and is expected to play, the AP said, although ESPN's injury list still showed him as questionable. Jaxson Dart, described by the AP as the Giants' most important offensive player, is out. McCarthy is 43 of 68 for 622 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a relief appearance and two starts for New York.