Daniels leads Washington to late win over Giants
The Commanders secured a 24-21 victory Thursday night, snapping a losing streak against New York and improving their playoff odds.
By Renata Mehta ·
Jayden Daniels completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs with 57 seconds remaining to give the Washington Commanders a 24-21 victory over the New York Giants on Thursday night. The win came at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and marked a critical success for a franchise that had previously lost to New York last month.
The game required a dramatic finish after Daniels threw two interceptions earlier in the contest. His first pick, dropped by Jevon Holland on his 208th pass attempt, and his second, intercepted by Ar'Darius Washington on his 211st attempt, had put the Commanders in a deep hole. Those turnovers allowed New York to take the lead, with quarterback J.J. McCarthy finding Isaiah Likely for a 66-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
Despite the early struggles, Washington managed the final drive with precision. The offense relied on a mix of short passes and run plays to keep the clock moving, though they faced pressure from the Giants defense. Tight end Ben Sinnott recalled the team's resilience during their 2024 season, noting that having another chance to win the ball game reminded him of those memorable comebacks. Daniels echoed this sentiment, stating that even after messing up the whole game, the team still had a chance to win.
The statistical line for the Commanders was mixed but effective. Daniels finished 23 of 33 for 249 yards and also had touchdown throws to Sinnott and Antonio Williams. He also contributed 28 yards on 10 carries. The win improved Washington's record to 3-5-1, while the Giants fell to 5-3-1. With the victory, Washington now holds the tiebreaker in the NFC East division race against New York.
New York's offense struggled to sustain momentum in the fourth quarter. Coach Dan Quinn challenged a quarterback sneak by J.J. McCarthy, which was originally called a first down, but the call was reversed after review. Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise insisted that he stopped the play, asserting that McCarthy did not gain the necessary yardage. The Giants also punted multiple times, returning possession to Washington.
Kicking became a deciding factor in the final minutes. Washington rookie kicker Drew Stevens successfully converted a 46-yard field goal. In contrast, New York's Dominic Zvada missed a 33-yard attempt wide left. Zvada is currently 8 of 14 from the field this season, having started with a nine-consecutive-make streak. Coach John Harbaugh defended the rookie, saying the team cannot start firing guys left and right, and expressed confidence that Zvada would continue to make kicks for the team.
The Giants' J.J. McCarthy threw for a career-high 293 yards in his first home start since being traded from Minnesota in late September. However, he was intercepted by Rasul Douglas in the final minute, a turnover that sealed the loss. McCarthy acknowledged the difficulty of the final two passes, noting that the pressure was intense and he wanted to give his playmaker a chance to make a play. He expressed belief that the football team would get better from this performance.
Both teams will return to action next week. The Commanders will host the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, November 23. The Giants will host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, November 22. Injuries were limited in the fourth quarter, with Washington tight end Chig Onkonkwo leaving briefly with a back injury before returning, and New York safety Jason Pinnock leaving early in the third quarter with a similar complaint.
