Preview, forecast, what to look out for

LANDOVER, Maryland – A behind-the-scenes look at the Giants’ game against the Commanders in Week 2 of the NFL on Sunday at Northwest Stadium:

Marquee Duel

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin vs. Giants CB Deonte Banks

Banks put in a notable performance against Justin Jefferson last week, but fell short on a 44-yard pass and a short touchdown throw.

Things like this happen against perhaps the toughest defense in the league.

McLaurin is no pushover and is the biggest threat here, but it remains to be seen if fellow rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels can find him consistently.

McLaurin was targeted just four times in 48 snaps for Tampa Bay and caught two passes for 17 yards.

The plan is believed to be to get him the ball more often, and that's a battle Banks will have to win – with the other starting cornerback, Nick McCloud, out with a knee injury.

Paul's Choice

Here's what we're going to do.

The opening game was so bad that we will wait to take on the Giants until they show they are worth taking on.

Sure, this is an opponent in their weight class and experience shows that this comparison usually favors the Giants.

If the defense can make Jayden Daniels look like a rookie, it will be a good day for the away team.

Assuming, of course, that the Giants' experienced quarterback can get his act together.

Commanders 24, Giants 20

Four Downs

Zero-sum game: How does this fit together?

Kayvon Thibodeaux played 41 defensive games in the opening game and got away with… almost nothing.

No sacks, no tackles for loss, no tackles at all, for heaven's sake.

He was credited with a quarterback hit.

He said he was lost in his own thoughts and that it was harming him.

“It's still early in the year, so it's easy to think a lot,” Thibodeaux told The Post. “I think I've been thinking a lot. It's the first game of the season, you don't build such good habits when you can't finish a quarterback, can't tackle a running back and just play football as a defensive back. I just have to continue to get back to that and execute my game plan quickly and effectively.”

Down debuts: Malik Nabers was not happy with what happened in his first NFL game.

He had five catches for 66 yards, but his passing was ineffective and the Giants lost.

It's not easy to dominate at the next level. Marvin Harrison Jr., the No. 4 pick, had just one catch for 4 yards in the Cardinals' loss to the Bills.

“I mean, obviously it wasn't great,” Harrison said.

Rome Odunze (No. 9 overall) had just one pass reception for 11 yards and left the Bears' win with a knee sprain.

In his second act, Nabers will face a suspect Commanders secondary that shredded the Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield with four touchdown passes last week.

Here's how to find out: It takes a while for everyone to understand what is expected of them when a new defensive coordinator comes in and installs a completely different system.

Shane Bowen assembled a unit with the Titans that ranked first in the league in red zone defense, but his tenure with the Giants was rocky.

The Vikings scored touchdowns on both forays into the red zone.

“It really comes down to the fundamentals, honestly,” said safety Jason Pinnock. “Being in a gap, using your hands, getting rid of blocks. Don't panic in that sense. We understand where [Bowen] was. That's where we want to end up.”

In front: The Giants' front office disagreed with NFL Network's Brian Baldinger that the offensive line was “terrible” in the opening game, and believed that not all five sacks allowed were the defense's fault.

The mostly new group will have to face the impressive 1-2 interior punch of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, which means guards Jon Runyan Jr. and Greg Van Roten and center John Michael Schmitz will have to come into their own.

This trio didn't do much in terms of run blocking last week.