East Rutherford, N.J. — The Washington Commanders needed a late-game response, and Jayden Daniels once again demonstrated why he is the centerpiece of the franchise.
Despite throwing two interceptions that threatened to derail Washington’s chances, Daniels came through when the game was on the line, connecting with Stefon Diggs for a 32-yard touchdown with 57 seconds remaining to lift the Commanders to a dramatic 24-21 victory over the New York Giants on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.
The comeback brought back memories of Daniels’ outstanding rookie campaign in 2024, when he repeatedly delivered in pressure situations and helped establish himself as one of the league’s emerging quarterbacks.
Washington’s players never lost confidence in their quarterback, even after his mistakes gave New York opportunities to take control.
Tight end Ben Sinnott remembered the confidence the team developed during Daniels’ rookie season.
“Being able to get another opportunity with the ball in our hands to go win it, it definitely took me back to that season,” Sinnott said.
Daniels finished 23-of-33 for 249 yards and three touchdown passes. He connected with Sinnott and Antonio Williams earlier before finding Diggs for the decisive score. Daniels also contributed 28 rushing yards on 10 carries.
The victory was especially important for Washington (3-5-1), which moved within two games of the NFC East-leading Giants (5-3-1). The Commanders also gained the tiebreaker advantage after the teams played to a tie in their previous meeting last month.
For Daniels, the ability to overcome adversity was just as important as the final score.
“You could mess up the whole game but still have a chance to win,” Daniels said.
He added that Washington showed improvement from its previous matchup against New York and responded when the game presented difficult situations.
Giants Unable to Finish After Taking Fourth-Quarter Lead
For much of the second half, Washington appeared to be in danger of letting the game slip away.
Daniels threw interceptions to Jevon Holland and Ar’Darius Washington on his 208th and 211th pass attempts of the season, respectively. The turnovers gave New York opportunities to capitalize.
The Giants took advantage when quarterback J.J. McCarthy connected with Isaiah Likely on a 66-yard touchdown reception midway through the fourth quarter, putting New York in front.
Running back Cam Skattebo also found the end zone twice, giving the Giants an opportunity to protect their advantage.
However, New York struggled to establish enough consistency on the ground to keep Washington’s offense off the field. The Giants repeatedly gave the Commanders opportunities to regain possession through punts.
One particularly important moment came when New York attempted a quarterback sneak with Jameis Winston. The play was initially ruled a first down, but Washington coach Dan Quinn challenged the decision, and the ruling was overturned.
Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise credited himself with stopping the play.
“Because I stopped him,” Wise said.
Winston also attempted to draw Washington offsides with a series of barking sounds during a hard count, referencing “Who Let the Dogs Out.” The tactic failed to produce the desired result.
Those missed opportunities ultimately gave Daniels another chance to deliver.
Giants coach John Harbaugh acknowledged that his team failed to take advantage of its position but emphasized that the loss should not define the season.
“It’s a missed opportunity, certainly, but it doesn’t change things for us,” Harbaugh said. “There is still a lot of football to play. We played well — just not well enough.”
Diggs Provides the Game-Winning Finish
With the clock winding down, Washington put together the drive it desperately needed.
A pass interference penalty helped move the Commanders into scoring territory, setting up Daniels to look for Diggs in a critical situation.
The veteran receiver created separation from the Giants’ coverage, giving Daniels an opportunity to deliver the football.
Diggs hauled in the 32-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds remaining, completing Washington’s comeback and sending the Commanders sideline into celebration.
The reception also marked the 80th touchdown catch of Diggs’ NFL career, making him the 30th player in league history to reach that milestone.
New York still had an opportunity to respond, but McCarthy’s final-minute pass was intercepted by Rasul Douglas, effectively ending the Giants’ comeback hopes.
McCarthy Shows Progress Despite Late Interception
McCarthy delivered one of his better performances since joining New York, throwing for a career-high 293 yards in his first home start for the Giants following his late-September trade from Minnesota.
Despite the statistical production, his final possession ended in disappointment when Douglas intercepted his pass.
McCarthy said he understood the risks involved in attempting to make a play with the game on the line.
“It’s easy to second-guess the final two passes,” McCarthy said. “The pressure was coming. It’s one-on-one outside. I wanted to give my playmaker a chance.”
The young quarterback remained optimistic about what the Giants could accomplish moving forward.
“This football team is going to get better from this. I know it,” McCarthy said.
Kicking Game Produces Different Results
The two teams also experienced contrasting performances from their rookie kickers.
Washington’s Drew Stevens connected on a 46-yard field goal, while New York’s Dominic Zvada missed a 33-yard attempt wide left.
Zvada, who opened his NFL career by converting nine consecutive attempts, has since made only eight of his last 14 field goals.
Despite the recent struggles, Harbaugh made it clear that he continues to support the young kicker.
“You can’t start firing guys left and right,” Harbaugh said. “I believe in him. He’s going to make kicks for us.”
Injury Updates
Commanders: Tight end Chig Onkonkwo exited during the second quarter with a back injury but returned following halftime.
Giants: Safety Jason Pinnock left the game with a back injury early in the third quarter.
What’s Next?
Washington will return home to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, November 23, looking to build on the momentum from its divisional victory.
The Giants will attempt to rebound when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, November 22.
