Let me introduce you to The NFC Least Principle. It's simple and easy to follow. Nobody in the NFC East is good enough to be favored against anybody else within the division, so we just bet the underdog whenever they square off. It went 11-1 last season, and it should get off to a 1-0 start this week as we look to fade the team that's favored despite starting Taylor Heinicke.

The knee-jerk reaction here is to back the Giants with Ryan Fitzpatrick injured and with Daniel Jones 4-0 against Washington, but those four wins almost all featured mid-game QB changes for Washington and Jones really only excelled in one: the second 2019 game against an interim head coach. Taylor Heinicke performed well when pressed into duty against the Bucs in the playoffs and did an admirable job in Week 1, getting Washington into scoring range on his first three drives and taking a lead into the fourth quarter. Washington has a much better surrounding cast around its quarterback and fewer injury issues overall, so I think they should be laying more than a field goal here.

I'm not thinking this will drop under 3 on the spread and may even close at 3.5, so let's take our first moneyline wager of the season because we can't do alternate lines here and I refuse to bet the spread on 3 (or 7). I actually believe the WFT will be better with mobile Taylor Heinicke under center than statue Ryan Fitzpatrick. WFT apparently didn't lose anyone else to injury from Week 1, while the Giants will be without TE Evan Engram and starting guard Shane Lemieux. RB Saquon Barkley clearly isn't close to 100 percent off his 2020 torn ACL. He's listed as questionable but expected to play.

Daniel Jones is 4-0 with a 100 passer rating against Washington. He and Kenny Golladay should have better chemistry in Week 2. I like the divisional dog catching more than a field goal here. Taylor Heinecke is a terrific backup, but the Washington offense takes a bit of a hit without Ryan FItzpatrick's aggressive passing. Grab the points.

With an injury to starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and Washington coming off of a short week to work with the starters, I have serious concerns about Taylor Heinicke's potential effectiveness against a very good and opportunistic Giants defense. On the other side of the ball the Giants found some offensive success against a solid Broncos defense. Look for a rebound game for New York and Daniel Jones, who is a perfect 4-0 against Washington.

The underdog carries appeal when an offensively challenged opponent is spotting it more than a field goal. Washington carved out just 259 yards and one touchdown in its season opener while QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (hip) was injured in the first half. Taylor Heinicke, whose 38.2 passer rating was dreadful in relief, steps in against New York. He has thrown just as many interceptions (three) as touchdowns in nine career appearances. Meanwhile, WR Curtis Samuel (groin) remains on injured reserve. The Giants were equally impotent on offense in Week 1, but RB Saquon Barkley (10 carries, 26 yards) figures to be more productive after a length injury layoff. Visiting teams went 11-8 straight up on Thursday Night Football last season, debunking the notion of a short-week penalty for traveling clubs.