Giants Snap Losing Skid with 14-7 Win Over Washington

Giants defense steps up again while the offense opens up some big plays.

Author:
Joe Najarian
Publish date:
Oct 22, 2023 5:15 PM EDT

In this story:

East Rutherford, N.J.: The New York Giants, sporting their retro uniforms, ended a four-game skid and improved to 2-5 with a 14-7 win over the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

In a hard-fought defensive struggle, characteristic for the Giants teams that wore those classic uniforms, New York’s defense recorded six sacks, blocked a field goal, and forced a climactic turnover on downs. Surprisingly, the offense showed signs of life despite scoring only 14 points and recording 100 yards in the second half. The Giants outgained the Commanders in total yards, 356-273.

Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, filling in for Daniel Jones, posted an impressive 116.9 passer rating and did a good job utilizing the Giants’ receiving weapons. Despite taking four sacks, he completed 18 of 29 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns without throwing any interceptions. His top targets were Darren Waller, who caught seven passes for 98 yards and his first Giants touchdown, and Jalin Hyatt, who had 75 receiving yards on just two catches.

Running back Saquon Barkley, despite losing a crucial fumble in the fourth quarter, was back to full strength with 118 scrimmage yards. He rushed for 77 yards on 21 carries, had 41 receiving yards on three receptions, and scored a touchdown.

Commanders quarterback Sam Howell completed 22 of his 44 passes for 249 yards but didn’t throw for any touchdowns. He also threw an interception that set up the decisive score. Receiver Terry McLaurin was Washington’s leading receiver, with six receptions for 90 yards. Brian Robinson Jr. scored Washington’s only touchdown but was held to just 23 yards on eight carries and no receptions, as the Commanders were limited to 76 rushing yards.

The Giants had their best first half of the season and were in total control for the first 30 minutes. However, despite a great opportunity early on, they wouldn’t score until the second quarter.

After both teams went three-and-out to start the game, New York’s offense found a rhythm and moved 66 yards in nine plays. Facing 3rd-and-6 at his own 15-yard line, Taylor fired a 33-yard strike to Jalin Hyatt to advance the ball near midfield. Two plays later, Barkley moved the chains with a 12-yard run to the Washington 31.

Unfortunately, the Giants ultimately came away with no points. Taylor threw a deep pass to Hyatt in the end zone on 3rd and 2, but Hyatt was well-defended by Benjamin St-Juste and could not haul in a highlight-reel one-handed catch. New York then sent out the normally reliable Graham Gano for a 42-yard field goal attempt, but he shanked it wide right, and the game remained scoreless.

The next three drives ended in punts, and the Giants would receive the ball at their 12-yard line. Suddenly, the offense found a new gear, as they needed just eight plays to go the field length.

A 3-yard run by Barkley was followed by three consecutive completions from Taylor for 57 yards, a pair of 22-yard receptions by Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton, and a 13-yard reception by Waller. Taylor then moved the ball inside the 10 with a 20-yard scramble.

The offense would have some trouble finishing the drive, with a 4-yard sack and an offensive holding penalty moving the ball back to the 15-yard line on 3rd-and-goal. Still, they were able to execute when Taylor threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Waller (his first touchdown as a Giants), giving them a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. It was the Giants’ first offensive touchdown since Week 3 against the 49ers.

Both teams punted on their next drives before the Commanders could finally move the ball, with Howell scrambling for 11 yards and completing an 8-yard pass to Jahan Dotson. But on the next play at the Washington 43, Howell was intercepted by Deonte Banks, who recorded his first career interception; an additional unnecessary roughness penalty on Washington gave the Giants great field position at the Commanders 48.

It took just two plays for the Giants to capitalize. After completing a 16-yard pass to Waller, Taylor threw a short pass to Barkley, who rumbled into the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown. New York, with all the momentum, now led 14-0.

The rest of the first half was uneventful, as the 14-0 lead would stand at halftime. Overall, the Giants dominated the stat sheet; they outgained the Commanders in total yards 256-47, had 11 first downs to Washington’s two, held Howell to 15 passing yards, and had 40 offensive plays to Washington’s 27. Only two of the Commanders’ drives didn’t end after three plays.

Unfortunately, the Giants let the Commanders get back in the game. New York’s defense seemingly forced a three-and-out to begin the second half, but punt returner Sterling Shepard muffed the punt, and Washington’s Dyami Brown recovered the ball at the Giants 21. With a second chance, Washington capitalized with Howell’s 8-yard completion to Dotson on 4th-and-1 and scored on running back Brian Robinson Jr.’s 4-yard touchdown run two plays later to make it 14-7 Giants.

New York later had a great opportunity to score on defense that was ultimately wasted; on 1st and 15 from the Washington 12, Howell was being chased by Micah McFadden in the end zone and threw a wobbly pass meant to go out of bounds. Kayvon Thibodeaux settled under the errant pass but dropped it.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) leaves the game with an injury against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, October 8, 2023.

Had he caught it, the Giants could have had a red zone opportunity, or Thibodeaux himself could have scored for a pick-six. Washington was ultimately forced to punt on the drive, one of five straight punts for each team.

In the 4th quarter, Washington threatened to tie the game by moving 81 yards in eight plays. Howell completed a 27-yard pass to Terry McLaurin to begin the drive, with an additional 15 yards from an unnecessary roughness penalty on Xavier McKinney.

Later, McLaurin caught a 31-yard deep pass and would have scored the tying touchdown if McKinney hadn’t touched his helmet to down him. This immediately became important as New York’s defense successfully halted the drive at the 9-yard line; Washington decided to settle for a 27-yard field goal attempt for Joey Slye, but Leonard Williams blocked the kick for a massive clutch play.

However, the Giants themselves would waste a scoring opportunity. After a pair of third down conversions (one by penalty), they faced 2nd-and-9 at their own 37-yard line when Taylor launched a deep ball to Hyatt, who hauled it in for a 42-yard catch (Washington challenged, but the call stood). Unfortunately, after advancing to the Washington 10-yard line, the Giants turned the ball over when Barkley had the ball ripped out by Commanders lineman Daron Payne.

The Commanders responded by marching 85 yards in a staggering 17 plays, all the way to the Giants 7-yard line. They picked up six first downs and converted on fourth down with a 6-yard pass to McLaurin.

But while the Giants’ defense would bend, it wouldn’t break. Howell’s first pass fell incomplete before McLaurin’s 5-yard catch moved the ball to the 7-yard line. But Howell’s next two passes to McLaurin and Dotson fell incomplete, and the Giants defense forced a game-winning turnover on downs. Three QB kneels by Taylor later, the Giants were victorious.