WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 21 – NEW YORK GIANTS 6…
All of the preseason optimism surrounding the New York Giants evaporated with their 21-6 defeat to the Washington Commanders on Sunday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. Indeed, if not for repeated mistakes by the Commanders, the final outcome would have been far worse.
The same problems that have plagued the team for years showed up again. The Giants could not score enough points. They were soundly beaten on both lines of scrimmage, including shoddy offensive line play. The run defensive was terrible and the defense did not force a turnover. Quarterback was a weak spot. Worse, at times the Giants appeared to be going through the motions.
The Commanders dominated the team stats, out-gaining the Giants in first downs (25 to 17), total net yards (432 to 231), net yards rushing (220 to 74), and net yards passing (212 to 157). Neither team turned the ball over, but the Giants were held to 4-of-16 (25 percent) on 3rd-down conversion attempts and failed miserably in their two red-zone opportunities.
The most damning stats? New York’s running backs ran the ball 15 times for 30 yards. The Giants also only averaged 3.7 yards per offensive play.
Washington had five first-half possessions. Two resulted in touchdowns with drives of 89 yards on eight plays and 58 yards on six plays. But even on the other three possessions that resulted in two punts and the end of the half, the Commanders blew chances to add more points to the scoreboard with mistakes, including a penalty at the 4-yard line that prevented a field goal attempt with a clock run-off.
Meanwhile, the Giants could not get anything going outside of one drive. Three of their four first-half possessions resulted in a total of 12 yards. They had one drive gain 76 yards on 16 plays, but embarrassingly could not punch the ball into the end zone despite seven plays at or inside the 10-yard line (a flag on Washington gave the Giants another set of downs).
At the half, the Giants were fortunate to be only down 14-3.
New York received the ball to start the second half, gained 15 yards, and punted. Their next possession gained zero yards and resulted in a punt. The Giants’ defense also forced two punts.
On New York’s third possession of the second half, the Giants scored their final points by driving 43 yards in 12 plays to set up a 55-yard field goal by place kicker Graham Gano. This cut the score to 14-6 late in the 3rd quarter.
After both teams exchanged punts, the Commanders put the game away with a 9-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard end around by wideout Deebo Samuel for a touchdown. Washington was now up 21-6 with just over seven minutes to play.
The Giants did gain 62 yards on their last possession, but failed to score on four attempts from the 3-yard line. The Commanders then ran out the clock, embarrassingly gaining 64 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Russell Wilson finished 17-of-37 for 168 yards and a quarterback rating of 53.3. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 44 yards on eight carries. The top targets were receivers Wan’Dale Robinson (six catches for 55 yards) and Malik Nabers (five catches for 71 yards).
Defensively, the Giants accrued three sacks, two by outside linebacker Brian Burns. Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux also split a sack. The team did not force a turnover.
GAME VIDEO LOWLIGHTS are available on YouTube.
PRACTICE SQUAD ELEVATIONS, INACTIVES, AND INJURY REPORT…
On Saturday, the Giants activated (standard elevation) DT Elijah Garcia from the Practice Squad.
Inactive for the game were QB Jameis Winston (3rd QB), LT Andrew Thomas (foot), OG Evan Neal, TE Thomas Fidone, DT Darius Alexander, and S Beau Brade.
ILB Micah McFadden (leg/foot) was placed in an air cast and carted off of the field in the 1st quarter. While x-rays were reportedly negative, McFadden did not return and was spotted in a walking boot.
POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Brian Daboll and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:
- Head Coach Brian Daboll (Video)
- QB Russell Wilson (Video)
- WR Malik Nabers (Video)
- DT Dexter Lawrence (Video)
- OLB Brian Burns (Video)
WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Head Coach Brian Daboll will address the media on Monday.