LANDOVER, Md. — An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Commanders NFL Week 2 matchup at Northwest Stadium:
Marquee matchup
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin vs. Giants CB Deonte Banks
Banks did a credible job last week vs. Justin Jefferson, but he did get beat on a 44-yard completion and a short TD toss.
These things happen against perhaps the toughest cover in the league.
McLaurin is no slouch, and he is the top threat here, but it remains to be seen if his rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, can find him consistently.
McLaurin in 48 snaps at Tampa Bay was targeted just four times and caught two passes for 17 yards.
It figures the plan will be to get him the ball more often, and this is a battle Banks needs to win — with the other starting cornerback, Nick McCloud, out with a knee injury.
Paul’s pick
Here is what we are going to do.
The opener was so bad that we will hold off on taking the Giants until they show they are worth taking.
Sure, this is an opponent in their weight class and history says this matchup usually favors the Giants.
If the defense can make Jayden Daniels look like a rookie, it will be a good day for the road team.
Predicated, of course, on the Giants veteran quarterback getting his act together.
Commanders 24, Giants 20
Four downs
Zero sum game: How does this add up?
Kayvon Thibodeaux was on the field for 41 snaps on defense in the opener and came away with … next to nothing.
No sacks, no tackles for loss, no tackles at all, for heaven’s sake.
He was credited with one quarterback hit.
He said he got in his own mind and that hurt him.
“It’s early in the year, so it’s easy to kind of think a lot,’’ Thibodeaux told The Post. “I think I was thinking a lot. It’s the first game of the season, you build not so great habits by not finishing on a quarterback, not being able to tackle a running back, just being able to play football as a defender. Just continue getting back to that and playing my game plan fast and being effective.’’
Down debuts: Malik Nabers was not pleased with what went down in his first NFL game.
He had five receptions for 66 yards, but the passing game was ineffective and the Giants lost.
It is not easy to dominate at the next level. Marvin Harrison Jr., the No. 4-overall 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 reception for 11 yards and came out of the Bears’ victory with a sprained knee.
For his second act, Nabers goes against a suspect Commanders secondary that Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers last week shredded for four touchdown passes.
Figuring it out: It takes time for everyone to understand what is expected of them when a new defensive coordinator comes in and installs a very different system.
Shane Bowen with the Titans put together a unit that finished first in the league in red-zone defense, but it was a rough start to his tenure with the Giants.
The Vikings scored touchdowns on both of their trips inside the red zone.
“It really comes down to fundamentals, truthfully,’’ safety Jason Pinnock said. “Being in a gap, using your hands, getting off blocks. No panic in that sense. We understand where [Bowen] was. That’s where we want to end up when it’s all said and done.’’
Up front: The Giants’ front office did not agree with Brian Baldinger of NFL Network that the offensive line was “awful’’ in the opener, believing not all five of the sacks allowed were the fault of the protection.
The mostly new group will face the formidable 1-2 inside punch of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, meaning guards Jon Runyan Jr. and Greg Van Roten, and center John Michael Schmitz will have to be on point.
That trio did not do much last week, as far as run-blocking.
