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Rampaging Giants closing in NFC East title

Nov 25, 2008 - 4:46 PM NY Giants (10-1) at Washington (7-4), 1:00pm, EST

LANDOVER, Maryland (Ticker) -- Even without their top receiver and leading rusher, the New York Giants' high-powered offense hardly missed a beat last week in Arizona.

The Giants seek their sixth straight victory Sunday when they visit the Washington Redskins in an NFC East contest.

Last week, New York played without running back Brandon Jacobs, who was sidelined with a knee injury, and lost receiver Plaxico Burress to a sore hamstring on the opening series.

It hardly mattered as the Giants rolled to a 37-29 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in their return to the site of last year's Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.

"It's kind of the way this team has developed in terms of the talent that we have and the ability of the guys to say, 'OK, we have an injury, we have to play at a higher level and the next guy that comes in has to do the job,'" New York Tom Coughlin said.

The NFL's top rushing offense was held to 87 yards, but Domenik Hixon picked up the slack with 269 all-purpose yards, the third-highest total in franchise history.

Holding a three-game lead in the division, the Giants (10-1) can virtually wrap up the NFC East with a victory Sunday. New York also would surpass its win total from last season (10-6).

"I feel confident with whoever is in there, that they are going to step up and make plays for us," New York quarterback Eli Manning said.

The Redskins' task is trying to slow down an offense that has been functioning like a well-oiled machine.

The league's highest-scoring team, the Giants have surpassed 30 points in each of their last five games. They have five straight wins against teams with winning records, one shy of the NFL record set by the 1970 Minnesota Vikings.

Sunday will be an emotional day for the Redskins, as they will induct the late Sean Taylor into their Ring of Fame prior to the game. Taylor died in November 2007 at the age of 24 following a shooting at his home.

Washington (7-4) got a boost last week from Clinton Portis, the NFL's leader in total offense who missed most of the week with a sprained knee.

Despite limited practice time, Portis rushed for 143 yards on 29 carries as the Redskins snapped a two-game losing streak with a 20-17 win at Seattle. The win kept Washington tied for second with Dallas in the NFC East.

The Giants will be looking for a season sweep after opening defense of their Super Bowl title with a 16-7 win over the Redskins.