LANDOVER B.J. Hill Color Rush Jersey , Md. (AP) —ants this season, Alex Smith was the QB for the Redskins, and their victory pushed them to 5-2, alone atop the NFC East.The Giants, meanwhile, dropped to 1-7, headed nowhere fast in coach Pat Shurmur’s first year and what just about everyone was figuring would be Eli Manning’s last.So much has happened in the meantime.As the rivals prepare to meet again Sunday, it’ll be Mark Sanchez taking the reins as the Redskins’ third starting quarterback in less than a month. They’ve lost three consecutive games to fall to 6-6. There was also the fallout from the decision to claim Reuben Foster off waivers after the San Francisco 49ers released the linebacker following an arrest for domestic violence.The biggest challenge now for the Redskins is trying to persuade themselves not to pack it in.“We still have a lot to play for. We’re not out of anything right now. It’s not like we’re 0-12 and we’re just playing for whatever. We’re actually playing to try to get into the playoffs, possibly win the division. Heck, we still have a lot out in front of us,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said.“It might not be pretty. We might not throw for 500 yards and lead the league in offense or what have you. We might throw for 100 and rush for 100 and win the game 7-3. Who knows?” Gruden said. “I know that we have enough talent in here, where we can still do some damage and compete with anybody on our schedule. So that’s my job to get our team up and ready — and then it’s their job to go out and perform at the very highest level that they can possibly perform.”And the Giants?Well, they’re still in last place, but they’ve shown lately that they didn’t give up under Shurmur, winning three of their past four games to get to 4-8, with rookie running back Saquon Barkley and star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. leading the way. If they beat Washington — and New York is favored because of the host’s quarterback situation — the Giants would suddenly have a realistic shot at moving out of the division cellar.The biggest impediment to Washington’s chances at staying close to the teams ahead of it, Dallas and Philadelphia, is an offense that saw Smith go down with a broken leg in a 23-21 loss against Houston on Nov. 18, then McCoy get a broken leg last week.Now Gruden had a short week to prepare Sanchez for his first starting assignment since the 2015 season.“We know what’s at stake,” said Sanchez, whose last win as a starter came in 2014. “We understand that this division is really up for grabs, so these next few games, especially the divisional games, carry a lot of weight.”Here are other things to know about the game Sunday:THE SANCHIZEAgainst the Eagles, the 32-year-old Sanchez compiled a passer rating of 53.7, going 13 for 21 for only 100 yards with one interception and one fumble that he managed to recover. His career passer rating is 73.7, and he has more interceptions (87) than TD passes (86) since entering the league as a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets.“It’s a huge leap playing with guys you don’t even know,” Gruden said about Sanchez, who was signed to be McCoy’s backup less than three weeks ago. “I don’t even know if he knows all (of his teammates’) names.”SO MANY FLAGSThe Giants have been penalized 50 times for 438 yards in their last five games, averaging 10 flags for 87.6 yards. In their last game, the numbers were 12 for 107.SO MANY INJURIESThe Redskins now have 17 players on injured reserve after adding three more names this week. The banged-up offensive line was already without both starting guards and now lost another Kyle Lauletta Color Rush Jersey , Jonathan Cooper, to a torn biceps. Another guard, Tony Bergstrom, is also hurt, as is starting center Chase Roullier.REPLACING LANDONReplacing injured safety Landon Collins is going to be tough for New York. He was the team’s leading tackler in each of his first three seasons and was leading the team this year with 96. Veteran Michael Thomas and rookie Sean Chandler probably will split time at the strong safety spot. The problem for the Giants is Collins is excellent in run support and covering tight ends.INDEFENSIBLEDuring Washington’s solid start to the season, the defense was seen as a strength. Not so much these days: Washington is allowing 27.3 points per game over the past three. And its opponents have gained 422.4 yards per game over the past five. Notable quotes from the team’s newest players"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections New York Giants NewsGiants Training Camp 2016Giants vs. Eagles 2015, Week 17New York Giants News2019 NFL DraftMeet your newest Giants: What the team’s Day 3 picks are sayingNew,88commentsNotable quotes from the team’s newest playersEDTShareTweetShareShareMeet your newest Giants: What the team’s Day 3 picks are sayingJulian LoveTrevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY SportsThe New York Giants selected six players on Saturday, the final day of the 2019 NFL Draft. Here are some of the highlights from each player’s post-draft conference call with New York media.NOTE: You will notice that Kentucky offensive tackle George Asafo-Adjei is not included below. He gets a post of his own.CB Julian LoveOn what he proved at Notre Dame ...“I had a pretty great three years at Notre Dame. I started a lot of games, played in all my games. I was healthy, I competed with the best at Notre Dame. So I know I can do a lot of things, so I think that’s what teams saw. I’m excited to showcase that going forward.”On what he does best ...“I think I’m a pretty physical player, I don’t shy away from contact at all. If anything, I show a lot of effort, I’m a smart player and I make plays. That’s what I’ve done my whole life and I’m excited to do that going forward. I’m just going to continue to be a playmaker.”LB Ryan Connelly Connelly told reporters that his mother, who has been undergoing treatment for lung cancer, will have her final treatment next Friday. That is the day the Giants’ rookie mini-camp opens.“Hopefully the checks will be all clear for lung cancer,” he said.On going from college walk-on to NFL player ...“It’s pretty surreal just coming from a high school quarterback, to walking on at Wisconsin, and now getting to play for the New York Football Giants. It’s pretty crazy, and it doesn’t even seem real to me yet.”On how he can help the Giants ...“I’m just really excited to see all my new teammates and get going on this defense, learning the defense. That’s probably going to be the first thing, is figure out everything I need to figure out, just so I can help the team in any way I can.”On playing special teams ...“I played a lot my first two years, and then my last two years, I was on punt and kickoff. That’s definitely something I’m willing to do.” WR Darius Slayton On what he brings to an offense ...“I think my biggest strength is my speed. I’m able to push the field vertically, as well as catch the ball intermediately, and I have ability to go and score. That’s probably some of the biggest things I’ve heard from teams that I hope to be able to bring the Giants. Just help take the top off the defense and help us win games.”On becoming a Giant ...“The phone just went off, and it actually shows up as New Jersey. So, my brain didn’t register New York Giants at first until the coach on the phone said the New York Giants, and I was like Alec Ogletree Color Rush Jersey , ‘That’s crazy.’ I remember they took the quarterback in the first-round, and obviously have Eli Manning, who has been a really good vet. I feel like they’re going to have good quarterbacks and have had some good receivers over the past few years. Like I said, just hope I can get in there and do my part.” On what he wants to prove ...“Just that I’m a complete player. I think through this process, I was fighting people putting me in a box as just a deep guy, or just a this guy, just a whatever guy. Just to have a complete game – that I can run the full route tree, I can get in and out of breaks, as well as beat you deep with my speed. I think that’s the biggest thing I have to show as soon as I get there.”CB Corey BallentineOn how he ended up at Washburn ...“I wasn’t really highly recruited for football coming out of high school. I was a late bloomer, I was recruited more for track. Washburn was one of my few football offers that believed in me. They believed they could help me grow and get better as a player. I met with the coaches and I figured it being close to home and I was comfortable with my coaches and teammates, it would be the best option for me. That’s why I chose it over other schools. I had a couple other D2 offers but I figured Washburn was the best one out of the other offers.”On the roles he can play in the secondary ...“I used to play free [safety] when I was in high school. I got recruited to Washburn as a corner. When I started playing, I started as a down safety in our defense, so kind of like nickel. I played nickel for two years then I played corner in 2017 and 2018. I’m comfortable playing both positions inside and outside. I don’t have a problem with either.”On the importance of participating in the Senior Bowl ...“It was definitely very important for me. I’ve always felt like I could compete with that type of competition as far as being with those D1 guys. This was kind of like my first real opportunity and I think I went out there and I did well. My real goal was just to improve every day. I knew I wasn’t going to go out there and immediately just lock everyone down, but as long as I was growing mentally and growing physically and getting my technique better, I felt like that was more important. “I ended up starting the game, so I felt like someone was seeing the improvements I was making as well. It was definitely important, kind of an eye opener for me because there is a lot of things I haven’t seen as far as routes, route combinations that I haven’t seen in Division II. When I got to the practices and one on ones and stuff, I saw that for the first time. It kind of opened my eyes and let me know I need to be more on my p’s and q’s. There are certain things I can get away with in Division II football that I can’t get away with there or in the NFL. I am definitely prepared for the challenge, but I’m glad I went there. I am definitely grateful for the opportunity.”On getting the call from the Giants ...“It was surreal, I’m sure you have heard it a lot, but this is something I have always dreamed of. It took me back to the moment when I got recruited to college and I told my coaches this is something I wanted to do, I wanted to go to the NFL. We were all kind of giggling and here the moment is, I’m getting the call from the New York Giants. It’s just surreal because I didn’t know how I was going to do it, I know I wanted to do it, I just didn’t know how. Now that the moment is here, I’m trying to soak it in really. I worked so long to prepare for this moment, going to the combine and the Senior Bowl not knowing what my future was holding. Now I’m finally getting to figure out my destination. I’m really just trying to soak in the moment. I have already talked to the head coach and the defensive coordinator and my position coach. I’m definitely getting a feel for them already. I’m enjoying the ride already.” DT Chris Slayton On what he brings to the Giants ...“Just a strong work ethic. I love to compete. I’m a high competitor.”