time to play the New York Giants.The NFC East-leading Redskins (4-2) have won two straight http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/saquon-barkley-jersey , are coming off a big win over Dallas, and now face a team that's seen its management trade cornerback Eli Apple and defensive tackle Damon Harrison — two starters — for late-round draft picks in the week leading to Tuesday's NFL trading deadline.It's clearly a housecleaning as the Giants (1-6) struggle through a second straight dismal season.How the Giants react remains to be seen.The bottom line is the Redskins should be licking their chops heading into Sunday's game at MetLife Stadium. New York has lost four in a row and won four times in 23 games over the last two seasons.Washington left tackle Trent Williams is wary, insisting the so-called easy game might be a distraction."You're going through so much that football is your sanctuary," Williams said of the Giants. "Football is where you kind of go to let off frustration. We can go in there and look at them from an outside perspective and say, 'All right, they're going through a lot. They should easily lay down and let us win this game.'"In reality, no matter what they're going through, playing on Sunday can fix everything. When your building is on fire and you win, it kind of puts it off for a second."The Giants were adamant in saying they will show up Sunday."We're not throwing in the towel at all," said B.W. Webb, who will probably replace Apple. "That's disrespectful to us players. We don't go into any game thinking we are just going to throw it away. We fight every week for our families, our kids and each other. It's disrespectful when we hear that, that someone says we are tanking or something like that."Some things to watch on Sunday:ALL DAY, NOT EVERY DAYAdrian Peterson still is producing at age 33, with four games of at least 95 yards rushing, and 10th in the NFL with 438 yards despite dealing with shoulder and knee injuries. With a career total of 12,714 entering Sunday, the guy nicknamed "AD" — as in "All Day" — needs only 26 to surpass Tony Dorsett and move into ninth in league history.In a nod to Peterson's age and health, coach Jay Gruden is giving his starting running back Wednesdays off. "The crazy thing is, I don't like it. I'd rather be out there, practicing with those guys. But (I'm) being smart: I've been around for a long time. I think I've paid my dues," Peterson said.TRADE AFTERMATHThe trades of Apple to the Saints and Harrison to the Lions create opportunities for Webb and tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Webb has been the Giants' nickel back. He probably will start at cornerback, like he did when Apple missed a game in Houston with a groin injury. Coincidently, the Giants won. Tomlinson has been in the rotation at tackle. He probably will start with rookie B.J. Hill.With Harrison gone, the Skins are sure to test them with Peterson.WATCHING SAQUONJust like everyone else who watches football, Peterson has been impressed by Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley. "From what I've seen so far http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/patrick-omameh-jersey , he shows some God-given ability. Great patience. His lower-body strength and balance is amazing. He flows," Peterson said. "I always sit back and watch young guys when they come in, and he's one of those guys that really excites me."O LINEThe Giants thought they solved their offensive line problems signing left tackle Nate Solder and guard Pat Omameh as free agents and drafting guard Will Hernandez in the second round. Despite having Barkley in the backfield, the Giants rank 30th in rushing and Eli Manning has been sacked 24 times. Solder and Hernandez have struggled on the left side the past two weeks. Expect the Redskins to probe there.Giants coach Pat Shurmur expects to use the same combination as last week, with Spencer Pulley starting at center and John Greco at right guard. Chad Wheeler is the right tackle.ALABAMA WALLSafety D.J. Swearinger has nicknamed defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne "the Alabama Wall," and that duo — first-round draft picks the past two years after starring for the Crimson Tide — is a big part of Washington's sudden ability to stop the run. The Redskins are giving up 87.3 yards on the ground each game, third in the NFL.One key: Washington is one of two clubs (Minnesota is the other) not to allow a 20-yard run this season. Last season, Washington owned the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 134.1 yards per game.AP Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this report.Perspectives: Time for Eli to shine, the locker room’s new vibe and concerns about OV Anyone who has followed me over the years knows that when it comes to the play of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, I’ve been quick to point out various factors behind his seemingly “declining” play which, as of last year, came to a head.No running game? Yes. Losing your top receivers? Yes. Playing in a scheme that doesn’t really complement what you do well? Yup. Playing behind a banged up offensive line that offered protection that left a lot to be desired? Absolutely.Well for those of you who were looking for wholesale changes, general manager Dave Gettleman heard you loud and clear.Manning now has the type of arsenal that most quarterbacks dream of — a running back who can also double as a force in space; the game’s best receiver; a solid tight end and complementary pieces that give the Giants depth at their skill positions that they haven’t had in a very long time. While there are still questions about the offensive line, on paper and in the handful of preseason snaps this unit took together, they’re already well ahead of where last year’s opening lineup was. As for the scheme, the Giants finally have a coach at the helm who is making the scheme all about the players rather than trying to fit square pegs into round holes as the previous head coach and architect of the offense did.In other words, the stars are aligned for 37-year-old Eli Manning to have the kind of success that has largely escaped him the last few years. While a legitimate argument can be made that Manning’s arm strength isn’t quite what it used to be, people need to remember that in Pat Shurmur’s eyes, arm strength isn’t as important as making lightning fast decisions, something Manning has always done well.With a better supporting cast around him, there’s no reason to think that Manning won’t look like his old self out there. If the Giants are to have any chance of becoming relevant again, they will need him to.Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty ImagesA question I’ve received several times this offseason that I haven’t really been able to answer because reporters weren’t allowed into the locker room until this week is what the atmosphere is inside of the locker room.Having been in the locker room several times this week, my initial impression is that the players are much calmer this year. There’s a sense of urgency, don’t get me wrong. But in taking on the personality of their head coach, the players seem to be living in the moment http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/kareem-martin-jersey , meaning there hasn’t been any trash talking or chests puffed out to the next county. The players have been accommodating — probably more so than I can remember of late — and have spoken to the media with a sense of sincerity when it comes to the opponent and for the task at hand.One thing that has especially struck me as being different is the number of players who are out in the open locker room interacting with their teammates. I can only speak about the 45 minutes or so the media gets during the day, but I’ve seen far more instances of either position groups hanging around together or guys who in the past might have sought refuge from the areas off limits to the media being in the open locker room.For example, every day this week, offensive linemen Jon Halapio, John Greco and Will Hernandez were at their respective lockers (Halapio has the corner locker, followed by Greco and then Hernandez). Whether they were just sitting around shooting the breeze or whatever, that is the kind of cohesiveness that I often thought was missing last year.Also a somewhat new sight this week was that receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was present in the open locker room virtually every day. In the past, Beckham would only be seen extensively if it was his scheduled day to speak to the media, but this week, he was out and available, even engaging in a friendly game of cards with teammate Jonathan Stewart while sprawled out on his belly. Landon Collins, a newly-elected team captain, has always been good about being present in the open locker room. This year, he’s been joined by another team captain, Michael Thomas, who is routinely at his locker where he engages in friendly chats with teammates. Remember, these are the guys who are gong into battle with one another. The more you get to know each other, the better it is for when split-second decisions have to be made with the game on the line.Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsThe Giants made it official Friday by declaring edge rusher Olivier Vernon (ankle) out of Sunday’s regular-season home opener.Earlier this week, head coach Pat Shurmur said that Vernon is a “fast healer,” but let’s be realistic. That Vernon has not been seen since he injured the ankle August 26 is concerning. Usually with an injured player, he at least comes out to work on a side field with a trainer during practice just to work on movement.Vernon hasn’t even been able to do that so far. Although it’s too early to wonder about next week, I think you have to face the possibility that until he can get out there and do something — anything — on the field, the Giants could be looking at the very real possibility of having to be without their best defensive player for multiple games.