The Washington Commanders earned a hard-fought victory over the New York Giants by a final score of 27-22, marking their second win against the Giants this season and completing a series sweep.
Sweep Over Giants
The win extended the Commanders' winning streak to three games, increasing their record to a solid 7-2, while the Giants continue to struggle, now with a 2-7 record. The Giants, with no time to regroup, prepare for international play next week in Munich, Germany, where they will face the Carolina Panthers at the Allianz Arena.
This will be the Giants' fourth regular season game in Europe and their second international appearance in three seasons, following a remarkable win over the Green Bay Packers in London last year.
On the Giants' offensive side of the ball, rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. had a prominent role after being released from the NFL after an injury in Pittsburgh.
Tracy has become the team's leading rusher, and his early-season performance, which included a career-high 145 yards on the ground, tied Eddie Price for the fifth-highest total by a rookie in franchise history.
The Giants made adjustments on the offensive line, with veteran Chris Hubbard filling the left tackle spot for the second consecutive game. Signed from the 49ers' practice squad in mid-October, Hubbard replaced Josh Ezeudu, who initially filled the position following Andrew Thomas' offseason foot surgery.
An Efficient Marshal Despite the Obstacles
At the quarterback position, Daniel Jones showed a balanced effort, including an impressive 24-yard run in the first quarter that contributed to the Giants' 70 yards on the ground on their first seven plays.
However, a crucial strip-sack to Jones by defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. resulted in a fumble in Washington territory, setting up the Commanders' first touchdown. Despite the setback, Jones completed the game with a productive stat line, catching 20 of 26 passes for 174 yards and three total touchdowns, two passing and one on the ground.
His first half passing numbers were unusual, with only four completions for zero net yards but a passer rating of 109.7, indicating touchdown efficiency despite limited yardage gain.
Among Giants receivers, rookie Malik Nabers continued to break new records, becoming only the second player since 1970 to record more than 50 receptions in his first seven games.
Another rookie, tight end Theo Johnson, also contributed to the Giants' comeback effort by scoring his first NFL touchdown on a 35-yard pass in the final minutes, cutting the score to 27-22.
Giants Struggle Without Their Defensive Line
Defensively, the Giants came into the game as the NFL's leading team in sacks with 35 total, putting them on track to potentially break the single-season sack record.
But they were unable to replicate this success, as they did not record a single sack in this matchup for the first time this season. However, corner Adoree' Jackson made his presence felt by breaking up a key pass to force a three-and-out on the Commanders' first offensive series, marking an improvement over the previous meeting, where Washington did not kick the entire first half.
On the Commanders side, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels made history by becoming the first rookie quarterback to win two games against the Giants in the same season, an accomplishment no rookie quarterback had achieved since the NFL began tracking openers in 1950.
This performance further underscores Daniels' impressive early success and Washington's confidence in its second overall draft pick. Special teams also proved to be a continued challenge for the Giants, as kicker Greg Joseph, diagnosed with an MRI-confirmed oblique injury, was placed on the reserve/inactive list.
Challenges in Special Teams
With regular kicker Graham Gano also on the inactive list after a hamstring injury suffered in an earlier game against Washington, the Giants turned to Jude McAtamney, a native of Derry, Ireland, who was elevated from the practice squad.
Making his NFL debut, McAtamney's performance included a 31-yard field goal and an extra point, demonstrating solid accuracy in the absence of the team's primary options.
The Giants also felt the absence of left-footed kicker Jamie Gillan, who missed his fourth consecutive game due to a hamstring injury in his kicking leg, further impacting special teams consistency.
During the game, injuries continued to plague both squads. For Washington, defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was evaluated for a possible concussion. Meanwhile, the Giants saw receivers Darius Slayton and Ihmir Smith-Marsette evaluated for concussions.
Each team also had a list of inactive players, with Washington losing players such as safety Darrick Forrest, running backs Colson Yankoff and Brian Robinson, safety Dominique Hampton and tackle Cornelius Lucas.
The Giants were without kicker Jamie Gillan, corner Tre Hawkins III, guard Jake Kubas, receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, defensive lineman Jordon Riley and emergency quarterback Tommy DeVito.
A historic rivalry is reborn! 🇪🇸🔥
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- Betcris (@Betcris) November 3, 2024
Movements in Templates
In terms of pregame roster changes, the Commanders elevated running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. from the practice squad to bolster their offensive options.
The Giants made multiple adjustments, including placing kicker Greg Joseph on the reserve/inactive list, signing outside linebacker Tomon Fox as a free agent from their practice squad and elevating kicker Jude McAtamney to cover Joseph.
In addition, tackle Marcellus Johnson was signed to the practice squad, providing additional depth.
