EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jayden Daniels threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs with 1:05 left, and the Washington Commanders beat the New York Giants 24-21 on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, according to NFL.com.
The winning drive covered 38 yards in five plays and took 49 seconds. A 33-yard defensive pass-interference penalty on D. Banks moved Washington into position, and Daniels and Diggs did the rest, putting the Commanders back in front after they had trailed inside the final nine minutes.
This was New York’s final shot. Rasul Douglas stepped up to end it, intercepting J.J. McCarthy’s deep throw to seal Washington’s win.
Daniels finished 23 of 33 for 249 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Diggs was his top target, catching six passes for 83 yards, and Washington ran for 105 yards as a team, led by R. White’s 47 yards on 11 carries.
The Giants outpassed Washington behind McCarthy, who was 23 of 36 for 293 yards and one touchdown with one interception. It was not enough, in part because New York lost two turnovers — McCarthy’s interception and a lost fumble by M. Nabers — and missed its only field-goal try.
Neither team scored in the first quarter. Washington broke through first, on a 46-yard field goal by D. Stevens with 14:12 left in the second quarter, ending a 12-play drive.
Cam Skattebo answered for New York. New York went 68 yards in 19 plays, eating up 7:48, before Skattebo punched it in from a yard out to put the Giants up 7-3. His second touchdown, a 13-yard run in the third quarter, completed a rushing night of 18 carries for 78 yards. Skattebo caught three passes for 44 yards, too.
Nine seconds before halftime, Daniels hit B. Sinnott for a 1-yard score, and Washington went into the break up 10-7. After that, the lead went back and forth between teams with each score.
Daniels hit A. Williams for a 31-yard touchdown in the third quarter, putting Washington up 17-14. New York answered with the longest play of the game. McCarthy found Isaiah Likely, who took the pass 66 yards for the score with 8:24 to play, putting the Giants ahead 21-17.
Likely caught nine passes for 127 yards, both game highs. Fields added three catches for 62 yards for New York, and Nabers caught five for 44.
The 21-17 lead stayed in place until that final Daniels drive. Douglas’ interception finished the job for a Washington defense that also came away with a fumble recovery.
New York’s cushion in the NFC East is thinner now, though at 5-3-1 the Giants still sit first, ahead of Dallas at 4-5. Washington improved to 3-5-1, and Philadelphia sits last at 2-7, according to the standings on NFL.com’s game page.
The teams’ first meeting this season, on Oct. 11, ended in a 27-27 tie.