Jayden Daniels kept finding answers when Washington needed them most, and the Commanders walked out of MetLife Stadium with a 24-21 win over the New York Giants on Thursday night.
Daniels was the difference in a game that swung back and forth all evening. He finished 23 of 33 for 249 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, then delivered the biggest throw of the night when he hit Stefon Diggs for a 32-yard touchdown with 0:57 remaining to put Washington ahead for good.
The game never settled into one team’s control. The lead changed hands six times, and Washington took a 10-7 edge into halftime before the Giants pushed in front 21-17.
New York’s go-ahead score came on J.J. McCarthy’s 66-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely with 8:13 left, but the Commanders answered late and closed it out.
Diggs was a major part of that finish, catching six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Antonio Williams also found the end zone for Washington, finishing with two catches for 42 yards and a score. On the other side of the ball, Odafe Oweh recorded a sack and Rasul Douglas came away with an interception.
McCarthy put up big numbers in defeat, completing 23 of 36 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Cam Skattebo added 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while Likely was the Giants’ top receiver with nine catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.
New York actually outgained Washington 399-340, but the Commanders made the plays that mattered late. Washington improved to 3-5-1, while the Giants dropped to 5-3-1.
The result leaves the Commanders third in the NFC East and the Giants first. Washington now leads the season series 1-0 with one draw.
Next up, the Commanders host the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Nov. 23, at 8:15 p.m. ET.
The Giants return home to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 4:25 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Luke McCaffrey Spotted A Giants Loophole The Commanders Needed
Luke McCaffrey gave the Commanders a little hidden value on special teams in the game against the Giants, and Dan Quinn noticed. On a kickoff sequence that could have been easy to overlook, McCaffrey recognized the ball was headed for a situation the NFL rules treat differently once it goes out of bounds, and he handled it in a way that helped Washington avoid a worse starting spot.
Instead of letting the moment turn into a routine dead-ball reset, McCaffreys awareness helped set the Commanders up at the 40-yard line. It was the kind of smart, situational play coaches love because it comes from understanding the fine print, and it gave Washington an extra edge in a game where every field-position advantage matters. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Rookie Sparks Concern After Strange Sideline Moment Vs Commanders
A strange sideline scene briefly stole attention from the Giants-Commanders matchup in Week 10 when rookie Cam Skattebo was seen vomiting during the game. Sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung noted the moment, and the broadcast booth of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit also addressed it as medical staff checked on him.
Skattebo appeared to be fine afterward, and the episode did not keep him from staying involved in the game. He later found the end zone in the second quarter, turning an odd and concerning moment into just another footnote in a matchup that already had enough going on. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Win Is Fueling A Brutal Giants Postgame Debate
The Giants 24-21 loss to Washington in Week 10 has lingered well past the final whistle because of what happened on the games last two throws. Head coach John Harbaugh pointed to the defensive look Washington showed, saying the Commanders came with zero blitzes and left routes that were supposed to be available. It was the kind of late-game sequence that usually gets replayed, dissected and second-guessed, especially in a one-score finish.
J.J. McCarthy did not try to dodge the moment afterward. He took responsibility for the interception on the final possession and said he could have handled the situation differently. For Washington, the win is another line in the standings, but for the Giants it has turned into a fresh debate about execution, decision-making and whether the offense read the moment the way it needed to. [Read more 🡒]