. this is fox 5 redskins game time. >> this is the game right here. >> touchdown. after one of the worst let-downs in franchise history >> crushing for the redskins >> giving up 15 points in three minutes in their crescents city collapse >> it's terrible. i feel bad for the players. you know, they laid it on the line, came out to a hostile environment. but won't get anything for close. >> got to come out and start swinging and getting back into the center of the ring. ♪ ♪ >> the skins have

up for a prime time tussle. on a holiday known as much for football as it is for food. guys are excited to play on thanksgiving. they're excited to get the bad taste of new orleans out of their mouth >> playing a night in national tv, what more oh could you want? >> what more? how about some redskins football to shake you out of that day-long food coma? game time kicks off now. ♪ ♪ >> this is fox 5 post game. >> post game? we're just getting started here. happy thanksgiving, the redskins will celebrate turkey day with a prime time match-up and brody logan grants paulsen headed the coverage. good evening, i, looking at this game going in, first thing is first, they got to be thankful for team doctors, both

>> you're saying it. got to be thankful for the doctors, trainers and jim, happy thanksgiving, grant, happy thanksgiving. >> same to you, buddy >> we're out here instead of being in a food coma, this is the time after you're eaten let it settle in and sit back and watch redskins football. >> this is kind of the dream. it's football, food, family. the redskins getting a rare chance to host on thanksgiving night obviously, first time at fedex field and they're taking advantage of it. i just saw the menu upstairs. it is elite levels, pay it 34 million on the franchise, and out in the parking lot. people have been here hour, they opened up several hours early and got massive movie theater size screens to watch the cowboys get dominated on, so it's been pretty fun >> that is a nice little dressing on everything. so you're saying that us is the kirk cousins of menus of franchise type player, last week the way this team, an epic melt down, the biggest

15 points to come back and tie the redskins in that loss and you have to turn around and play this game a few days later. it's kind of the mentality of this team >> it's the most demoralizing loss. maybe in the jay gruden tenure outside of the giants to keep them out of the playoffs last year. you only get three days to get ready for this one, they have not had a single practice since that loss and on top of all of that. adversity, they have more injured bodies coming into this game than they've had at any point this season, they will have two runningbacks on the field who have been here less than a week and one of whom will introduce himself to kirk cousins in the locker room and their starting center is a tackle in college who will play center tonight, because he needs to. and he's never snapped to kirk cousins in a practice. >> we're looking at just this week the people that were either ruled out or put on the ir, you're missing two centers.

coming off >> backups to starters on this list. >> the true deep is injured for the season, but chris thompson after the gruesome injury. he's done for the year, he was only the player in the nfl, how much does he mean >> he's a massive player for them. probably their offensive mvp. obviously the passer. generally the guy that's going to dominate conversation but you see his ankle get rolled up on here, he broke his fibula. this is a guy who's outstanding in pass protection on third down. he's a wonderful pass catcher. he's their most dynamic runner on. ground on outside zone getting into the open space and making people miss. chris thompson special, he was becoming a star this year, and he was the number one weapon in is

post jordan reed >> who is also out. >> you're now working basically with an offense where your best weapons are a 33-year-old backup tight end vernon davis and josh doctson who makes pro listening plays >> you mentioned bernie davis, i think of him as an old man but i'm older. when i had to do that google search i thought he's not that old >> if you're not out there, 33 here, not a problem. 33 out there. little bit of a problem but he makes it look good. >> to replace chris thompson we saw this last week. he can do with the bulk. not just replacing him with rob kelly. no, he'll be the bell cap. he's getting the rock and he showed it last week >> 23 attempts for him for 117 yards. you saw a lot of him in the deep back field, carries like this something he didn't do in college at oklahoma. he rushed for 400 yards in a game. he had an excellent college career but most of his

oklahoma operating at a shotgun, jay gruden wants him to look like this, he's a straight out of essential casting, he's got tree trunk thighs, falls forward. i was impressed by him last week in the second half. frankly in the first half, i thought he got a lot of yards generated by steam. he made people miss more in the second half, i want to see that carry over. >> reporter: you mention how good chris thompson is in picking up glitches in pass pro, i'm curious how will he do against the giants pass rush >> this is the million question, i talked to kirk cousins about this this week and he said look, we know samajay will run the football. what they don't know and i mean cousins' and gruden and everyone else is on third down will they be able to pick up the linebackers that will be hitting kirk cousins blind side? there's a

byron marshal. whose be a runningback. so p ryan not great, marshall, we have no idea because we haven't seen it. they will need to today and i think that's one of the stories of the game >> it's been the story of the season, along with those injury, it's the way that kirk cousins has been playing the season in spite of those injuries, losing weapons, not just -- losing 2000 receivers from last year, then coming in this year, you think pryor will be the number one guy, he hasn't performed and been injured. how has he been able to this with a make-shift offensive line and weapons >> it's staggering, what he's done is approved his value again, increased the way that the league used him again, one of the argument that's been used against him and i think correctly over last couple year, he was in a passer friendly offense with great weapons, desean jackson can strike up the band, garcson is really good as a

scramble already a career high in rushing yards, rushing first downs, picking up flags. i think the key for him has been he was just throwing in the open -- doesn't matter if it's jamison, crowder, chris thompson, jeremy is sprinkle. he's just hospital, the offense, no longer can you say this is a guy bouyed by the players around him and he's still performing at an admirable people. look at zach prescott, without his left tackle past two games. and the cowboys averaged eight points, they've been shut out. you lose two players and you fall apart. kirk cousins is without nine or ten and they're still making plays. >> you said that kirk cousins likes to find the open man, i like to look at my thanksgiving plate kind of like an offense. and if there's empty space, i'm going to go get seconds and thirsty and while you get seconds and

it out to melissa there with the tailgater >> eat more stuffing, all of the stuffing. listen to me. eat stuffing.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪. when you look at this redskins team, no doubt about it, going into tonight, and really season, there's guys on this team that weren't there last year and they got to be thankful for the new faces brody and grant back at fedex. at

>> reporter: you know, jim, you see those plays from last week and the lead this team put forth, the way the defense played, they controlled the game first half. causing turn overs and things like that, but the game against the saints, it was another game playing a first place team. the schedule has been ridiculous. then, right when you think to get a bit of a reprieve, it's a turn around to a thursday night game >> the giants a lot of people have left for dead or coming off of the second win and the first time they've looked like an nfl organization in last several week, you can't take them all that light you remember it was week 17 last year, playoffs on the line, giants playing backups on this field. new york beat washington, they always tend to give the redskins, the schedule has been arduous. played ten games so far at four and six of those ten games, six have been against division leaders. think about that. >> that's ridiculous. >> five teams leading divisions a total of six times they played philly twice, this is statistical, this is not my

difficult strength of schedule in football. they have anecdotally and probably statistically, the worst injury situation in the league in terms of quantity, and they're still hanging in these games against the lead opponents like minnesota, like new orleans, i think it's been admirable. those brown knee points don't make the fans feel any better >> doesn't make the players feel better. the fact that they're facing this brutal of a schedule. teams, like the vikings then you have to turn around and play thursday night and this week dj swear said the nfl needs to get rid of these games. >> they need to throw the thursday night games out definitely too hard on our bodies. speaking for us, speaking for any other nfl team. it's hard when you just, you know, get out the field on a sunday and you got to prepare and two, three days, get ready for another physical game, you know, tha

bodies definitely are hurting right now. >> reporter: players have been saying this for a number of years, they feel beaten up, they hate the thursday night games. what can these players and team do to deal with it? both teams have to deal with it >> there's nothing they can do, i think what you're seeing is a ground swell of players who are saying they don't want to participate in these games at all. this not relevant to tonight because of thanksgiving night and this would have been on the schedule even if there's night football is abolished. >> they just added the thursday and i to thanksgiving as well >> once a year is not the problem. the problem is every single week we get these games. i'm kind of with the players on this, i think the product is generally not as good and the league comes out and says, well, you don't have more of a chance to get hurt. our numbers tell us on thursday than you do the rest of the season, maybe that's true. i'm sure there's a wa

here's what i also know, with a few are starting elite top shelf players with jerseys being worn against crowds are able to play on thursday, than would be on sunday, who are nursing injuries. to me, just as a starting point with more backups on the field, the product gets worse, more practice time, more less time on the grass. less plays being run on wednesday and thursday, because yu're about to play in a game and going through a walk-through, it waters down what is generally a very good product. >> i know that the players don't like these thursday night games but the fans here tonight, they're getting lath erred up, ready for the thanksgiving feast and between the of fedex field and melissa you're out with a few having fun, i think i saw fried turkey, what do the fans think out there. tonight's game >> brody, fried turkey is absolutely amazing out here. right outside of fedex field, take a look can we get a look at this fried turkey that just came out. lift that up. i've got my own fried turkey here. i'll take a bite

delicious. good job. we got a special treat for you guys. we're going to go out over here, we got some giants fans out here tonight. we got ryan, sarah and z udi. how has it been mingling with the redskins fans? >> you guys are -- they're amazing. they're so nice. >> it's where it's at. where will you get a turkey leg like that? i got some of my beer but these guys take care of you >> doesn't matter, it's fried turkey and delicious. >> guys. thanksgiving spending it out here tailgating how has that been? is this the first time you spent thanksgiving out tailgating >> for me, yes. and they're very welcoming here, this has been a fun night here. looking forward to the game. >> no confrontations out here >> not at all. everyone is so nice and thankful >> i got to ask favorite thanksgiving side do you guys have one >> mac and cheese. >> oh, yes. >> forget

>> i think mac and cheese is the winner tonight. i got -- they had fried mac and cheese out here looked delicious. good time. lots of food, thanksgiving meal, tailgating good times, we're having a good time. we'll be talking to folks and enjoying the festivities before the game starts. back to you guys. >> reporter: fried mac and cheese, that is the new one but sounds absolutely fantastic. >> so good. >> gives me in >> just try anything and i'm into it. coming up we'll talk about this redskins team and maybe their chances for the playoff. the playoff picture, they're fading out. can they get back in? also important right now, go to your refrigerator, get that mashed potato pile it's still in there and eat nor marked potatoes >> more redskins game time coming up. pot potatoes .

. the season is not over, the question is there there be post season hopes? that's the big question, brody, w will. >> reporter: the season is not over yet but if you lose, it pretty much is. you go from think about playoffs to draft pick. who will we get? so for the playoff for the redskins, my hand is kind of how much the redskins are in the playoff picture at that point. they're on the outside looking in. but a win tonight may be get momentum you can put yourself back >> the keeper is their schedule softens up. starts with a giants team that does only have two wins. and this is kind of

much of the year as the turning point for them when they start to play teams they're better than, coming off of games against minnesota, could host a payoff game, new orleans on the road could very well be one of the top seeds and have a buy in the nfc. this is game one of a stretch of six games to finish the year that are all winnable. the problem is self inflicted by way of the injuries. they're just not themselves they don't have their starters but if they can overcome and persevere with a bench of guys that will be wearing hello my name is name tag in the locker room. you go to dallas next week without ezekiel elliot another break. >> reporter: you mention this is the win you need. you say the redskins are into it. so are the giants, without a few key players including beckham junior, so the team you'll see is not the one you thought you were going to go see earlier >> it's part of why they've been as bad as they have been. no i deal beckham junior

the offense way less exotic, not as many plays the you have to worry about, they're short on weapons on the outside that will scare you, also down a couple offensive line men. i think if the redskins will win this game, which i'm predicting them to do. they have to dominate up front. this to me is as simple as ryan cara gin and junior gel let, those three edge rushers coming from the outside linebacker, if they can dominate and combine for four sack, handful of quarterback hits and several pressures, the redskins will win but i would, if i'm coaching that position group or i'm defensive coordinator greg minusky. the boy is around in a hush tone, gentleman, if you get to my man and we win, if you don't, we lose. the offense, they got brody logan and grants paulsen starting, they may not be what we need them this is our game. we lost both games the last two

tomb too many points. >> it's also what everyone is talking about at the dinner table about politics, different things, what are the redskins conversations that are going to make them mad? arguments at the table? we'll touch on those. >> should i throw my hand warmer at you? r at you?

♪ ♪ ♪. welcome back, redskins game time, very special edition, thanksgiving, night and the thanksgiving table, there are all kinds of things people argue about, politics, when will you get married? that kind of thing. but the one thing that everyone can argue about but not come to fists, the redskins, i want you to know what are the things fans will be arguing about and lot

people responding, number one, kirk cousins. >> that's been the longest running argument that redskins fan dom. there's one side correct, which is he's a good quarterback. there's another side that's incorrect is that he's not a good quarterback. there's a real debate. which is should you pay him $30 million a year? i think that's a very reasonable question. you can be on either side of that and have a very good opinion but that is something that will agitate the folks at the dinner table. >> the other thing that agitates folks, gruden, is he the one that will take the team to a title >> i don't know that we have the answer to that just yet but here's what i know about jay gruden. he's gotten a lot out of a little this year, he's done a good job. i think his best coaching job this season and one thing i think in general we need to continue to dry to coach people up whether it's quarteac

someone on their win lose record is completely egregious. >> wouldn't the losses matter >> yes, but they're like 14th on the list when you're analyzing. >> what's your prediction >> i think the redskins offense will struggle with some new pieces. i think they win a game tonight, 20-17. >> closer than the experts vegas >> these two teams don't get together and not play close >> this is where the redskins have been playing really good teams, this is not a good team they will be playing, i think they win by two touchdowns, i'm saying 28-14 >> you don't know who's playing out there >> they've been putting put up big numbers with guys they don't know every single week >> that's true. >> it's a little bit >> you should be had a host of >> let's play videos. >> well, that does it for us

here. sunday 7:30 a.m. we'll be back redskins game time. hey, the cowboys are losing, so everyone is cheering. >> go get a sandwich.

[captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] . >> food on "tmz" -- >> happy thanksgiving, everybody. happy thanks giving. so here's what we're going to do today. we're going to do something special. put that hat so that you can catch the food that shevonne is going to throw at you and if you get that food into this little container here -- >> con open -- cornucopia. >> thank you. you get a clue and if you get two in, you get two clues and if you can guess the celebrity of the story we're doing, you'll win a bottle of cham shane -- champagne. >> anthony. harvey: and go. >> sorry, that was bad. >>