Recap – Washington Commanders at New York Giants – Week 7

October 23, 2023

By Noonefromtampa

Commanders Lose 14-7 to Giants

First Quarter

Washington won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.  Washington was able to force a rare opening drive three and out. After stopping Saquon Barkley for a loss on first, Washington forced two straight incompletions. After Jamison Crowder returned the Giants’ punt eight yards, the Commanders didn’t do much on offense. Brian Robinson was held to a short gain on first down, and then Sam Howell was sacked on second down when the Giants brought five rushers. Logan Thomas was able to pick up 14 yards on a third down reception but that was well short of the 21 yards needed for a first down.

Giants returner Eric Gray fumbled Way’s punt, but the Giants recovered. Tyrod Taylor was able to connect with Jalin Hyatt on a 33 yard completion. Barkley followed that up with 21 yards rushing on two plays before going out injured. On third and 2, Taylor took a deep shot to Hyatt again, but this time Benjamin St-Juste was able to break up the pass. Former Washington kicker Graham Gano attempted a 42 yard field goal but was wide right.

Washington had another three and out after Howell missed a wide-open Curtis Samuel on first down. Chris Rodriguez picked up 4 yards running on second down, but a third down incompletion forced another punt. The Commanders defense held the Giants to three and out on their next drive.  Barkley came back in the game but only picked up 2 yards running and 2 yards receiving. Taylor scrambled on third down but was stopped short of the first down marker.

On their next drive, Washington was able to pick up 18 yards on a pass to Samuel and Robinson picked up 6 yards running before the drive fell apart. The Giants brought pressure on the next two plays which resulted in an incompletion and another sack with a loss of 9 yards. Way punted the ball to the Giants 12 yard line where it was fair caught.

Second Quarter

After a short Barkley run, Taylor hit three straight passes for 22 yards to Wan’dale Robinson, 22 yards to Darius Slayton, and 13 yards to Darren Waller. Taylor then picked up 20 yards on a quarterback draw. After 4 yard sack, Barkley then picked up 7 yards. After a holding call on a third down scramble, Taylor hit Waller for the 15 yard touchdown. Gano converted the extra point. Giants 7, Commanders 0.

Washington went three and out again with another third down sack of Howell on their next drive.

The Commanders were then able to reciprocate by stopping the Giants with a three and out.

On Washington’s next drive, after a short run by Rodriguez, Howell then picked up 11 yards on a scramble up the middle. Dotson caught an 8 yard pass on a roll out to the left. Then Howell tried to float a pass out to Dotson who was open at the Giants 35, but Deonte Banks was able to intercept it. Andrew Wylie was called for a personal foul adding 15 yards to the interception.

It took two plays for the Giants to score. After a 16 yard completion to Waller, Taylor threw a checkdown to Barkley, who took it 32 yards to the end zone. Giants 14, Commanders 0.

Washington then had another three and out on offense with no sacks this time. After hitting Waller for 27 yards, Chase Young sacked Taylor for a 13 yard loss. Two straight incompletions forced a Giants punt.

Washington started their next drive with a first down holding call, and the Giants defense brought pressure on every play after that. The results were an incompletion, a 10 yard completion to Dotson, and another sack on third down.

After Washington’s punt, the Giants were able to pick up one first before Young sacked Taylor on third down for the second time in the game.

After the punt, with less than two minutes in the half, Howell hit Thomas for 9 yards but on second down was sacked for a 10 yard loss. A third down incompletion forced yet another Way punt.

The Giants picked up 8 yards on a pass to Isaiah Hodgins, but a holding penalty by Mark Glowinski on Daron Payne killed the drive and the Giants ran out the clock.

Third Quarter

Washington started on offense and, of course, Howell was sacked for a 7 yard loss. Antonio Gibson then picked up 12 yards on third down but was well short of the first down. Charles Leno was called for holding on the play, but the Giants declined, and Way punted again. Sterling Shepard subbed for an injured Gray, but muffed the punt and Dyami Brown recovered it at the Giants 21 yard line. Washington picked up 9 yards on two runs by Rodriguez. The Giants stuffed the Commanders on third down, but on fourth down Dotson caught a first down pass. Robinson scored a 4 yard touchdown two plays later. Joey Slye converted the extra point. Giants 14 Commanders 7.

The Giants were able to pick up a first down running the ball with Barkley, but the drive stalled when it came up 1 yard short on third down. The Giants decided to punt, but the punt only went 34 yards, which gave Washington the ball at their own 21 yard line.

Washington’s drive started out well with a 2 yard run by Robinson and a 14 yard completion to Thomas. Howell was called for intentional grounding even though Robinson was in the area, which caused Ron Rivera to argue the call unsuccessfully. Terry McLaurin caught a 15 yard pass but was unable to convert the third and five.

After the punt, the Commanders held the Giants offense in check, forcing a three and out. Washington only gained 13 yards on their next drive and had to punt again. The Giants responded with another three and out themselves.

On Washington’s next drive, Howell hit McLaurin for 27 yards and an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Giants was tacked on, putting the ball over midfield. Gibson rushed for 6 yards, followed by an incompletion. On third and 4, Washington was called for a false start. On third and 9, Howell hit McLaurin for 31 yards, but the drive stalled after that. Slye’s 27 yard field goal attempt was blocked by Leonard Williams.

Fourth Quarter

After a short run by Barkley, Khaleke Hudson sacked Taylor on second down. Montez Sweat and Young sacked Taylor again, but Jamin Davis was called for illegal contact and the Giants got a first down on the penalty. Young sacked Taylor again two plays later on second down, but then Barkley caught a 7 yard pass for a first down. Two plays later, Taylor hit Hyatt for a 42 yard completion which was upheld after the Rivera challenge. Barkley ran it three straight times, the first two gaining 11 yards, but Payne took away the ball on the third run.

Washington then had their best drive of the game. Aiding by a defensive holding call, Howell completed passes to Dotson, Samuel, and Thomas in his next four attempts. Byron Pringle caught a 16 yard completion. That was followed up by runs of 8 and 9 yards by Rodriguez. After another false start, Washington was able to gain 14 yards bringing up a fourth and one. McLaurin was able to catch a 6 yard completion to get the first down. However, the offense was unable to get either a first down or a touchdown, with Dotson dropping a first down catch on fourth down when the ball was thrown behind him.

To end the game in true Washington fashion, the team incurred a clock runoff when Payne was injured with Washington having no timeout left. This allowed the Giants having to avoid punting or taking a safety to end the game by running out the clock.

Thoughts

Horrible coaching on offense and defense. They lost the game.

They needed to roll out and throw slants and screens starting in the first quarter not in the fourth quarter.

With all of those Giants offensive lineman, Washington should have challenged them with stunts and blitzes.

We never get any breaks in officiating when the Giants are involved.