Commanders 24, Giants 21: Daniels survives two late picks, finds Diggs for the win
Jayden Daniels threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, then hit Stefon Diggs for a 32-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left on Thursday night.
Jayden Daniels threw two fourth-quarter interceptions and still walked off a winner. His 32-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs with 57 seconds left gave the Washington Commanders a 24-21 victory over the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football in East Rutherford, N.J.
Washington improved to 3-5-1. The Giants, who entered at 5-2-1 and atop the NFC East, fell to 5-3-1.
A second half of lead changes
The teams traded the lead four times in the second half, Pro Football Talk reported. Cam Skattebo's second rushing touchdown put New York ahead, and Daniels answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Williams, per DAZN. Then J.J. McCarthy found Isaiah Likely on a 66-yard catch-and-run with 8:13 left for a 21-17 Giants lead.
Two picks, two stops
Washington's next two drives ended in interceptions. Safety Jevón Holland picked off Daniels near the goal line with 5:27 to play, and Ar'Darius Washington intercepted him again with 2:15 left, according to PFT.
Neither turnover produced a first down for New York. After the first, Sonny Styles sacked McCarthy on third down, per DAZN, and the Giants faced fourth-and-1 from their own 11 with 3:27 left, took a delay-of-game penalty and punted, PFT reported. After the second, Washington's defense held again.
Three plays, 71 yards
Given one more chance, Washington needed three plays to cover 71 yards. A 33-yard pass interference penalty on Deonte Banks, covering Treylon Burks, did much of the work before Daniels hit Diggs up the middle for the go-ahead score. New York's last hope ended when Rasul Douglas intercepted a deep McCarthy pass intended for Malik Nabers with 25 seconds left.
The numbers
Daniels finished 23-of-33 for 249 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Williams and Ben Sinnott caught his other two scoring passes, and Diggs had six catches for 83 yards. McCarthy went 23-of-36 for 293 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Skattebo ran 18 times for 78 yards and two scores and caught three passes for 44 yards, and Likely had nine catches for 127 yards. The Giants outgained Washington 399-340, per PFT.
What it means
ESPN called it a much-needed NFC East win for Washington, which has been without receiver Terry McLaurin, out indefinitely with a knee injury, according to Yahoo Sports. For the Giants, it was a missed chance to build on their Week 9 win over the Eagles. The teams' earlier meeting this season, in Week 5, ended in a 27-27 overtime tie, ESPN noted.