Week 5 – New York Giants at Washington Commanders

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October 12, 2026

By Noonefromtampa

First Quarter

The Giants won the coin toss and deferred until the second half. Jayden Daniels opened with the drive with a throw to Chig Okonkwo for a first down. Two plays later he found Okonkwo again for 23 yards to the Giants 33-yard line. Jacory Croskey-Merritt broke through the left side and outraced everyone to the endzone for the touchdown. Drew Stevens missed the extra point for a 6-0 lead.

The Giants first drive started with a couple of Cam Skattebo runs and a scramble by Jameis Winston for a first down. Washington’s defense was able to put the Giants in an third and 13, but Winston found Isaiah Likely for 15 yards. A facemask penalty by Dorance Armstrong gave the Giants a first down at the Washington 20 yard line. Two penalties, s short run and an incompletion put the Giants in third and 19, where they picked up 7 yards for 50-yard field goal attempt. Dominic Zvada, also a rookie kicker, missed wide right.

The Commanders went three and out after the miss with Daniels getting sacked for a 6 yard loss. Tress Way came on to punt it away with the Giants getting a 12 yard return.

Washington went three and out again with another sack. The Giants keep blitzing on Brandon Coleman and the left side of the line.

After the punt, Malik Nabers caught a 20 yard completion to start the drive. A short run and two incompletions led to a 51 yard field goal, cutting the lead to 6-3.

After the kickoff, Croskey-Merritt ran twice for 9 yards.

Second Quarter

Croskey-Merritt pick up 3 yards and the first down. After Austin Ekeler ran for no gain, Okonkwo ran a 25 yard catch and run. Two plays later Ekeler caught a pass for 15 yards. On third and 11, Daniels ran for the first down to the Giants 9 yard line. The Commanders then committed back-to-back false start penalties. Terry McLaurin caught a 9 yard slant on second down. Giants declined the holding penalty on a third down incompletion. Stevens kicked a 28byard field goal to put the lead at 9-3.

On the next drive, a third down sack was negated by a holding penalty on Rasul Douglas. However, the defense held while the Giants committed a false start of their own to make it third and 10. Jeremy Reaves blitzed and Daron Payne got the cleanup sack forcing a punt.

After two rushes gained three yards, Coleman committed a false start penalty. The third and long completion gained two yards, leading to another Way punt.

After a short run, Winston lost the ball and Washington recovered. K’Lavon Chaisson got credit for the sack and fumble, with Tim Settle on the recovery.

Washington was unable to get a first down and settled for a 40 yard field goal from Stevens, making the lead 12-6.

With just over a minute left in the half, Likely caught a 9 yard reception after a 23 yard kickoff return. The Giants got a free timeout, with the review of the catch.  Skattebo picked up the first down and Likely caught a 12-yard pass. A penalty that was declined stopped the clock again. Two incompletions led to a third and 10 with 15 seconds left. Another incompletion led to a 57 yard field goal attempt by Zvada. It was wide left.

Washington took a knee to end the half.

Third Quarter

Likely caught an 11 yard pass to start the drive and Skattebo ran twice for 11 yards. An incompletion and an illegal shift penalty put the Giants in second and long. Malachi Fields caught a 13-yard reception, but Franke Luvu tackled J.J. McCarthy for no gain on a quarterback option play. Zvada hit a 56 yard field goal to cut the lead to 12-6.

After the kickoff return of 18 yards, Antonio Williams had a 17-yard catch. Daniels scrambled for 9 yards and Croskey-Merritt ran 4 yards for the first down. The Giants were called for defensive holding giving Washington another first down. Croskey-Merritt ran for yards and then Daniels scrambled 38 yards up the middle of the Giants defense for a touchdown. The extra point was good making the lead 19-6.

The Giants were able to pick up a first down with a 7 yard catch by Darnell Mooney and a 7-yard run by Najee Harris. Three plays later, The Giants went for it on fourth and four, Tyrone Tracy Jr. had a 21 yard catch and run. The Giants picked up another 17 yards down to the Washington 5-yard line. Then the bizarre sequence started. Giants called for delay of game. Amik Robertson intercepted the ball but that was negated because of a questionable pass interference call. After first and goal, Likely scored three plays later, cutting the lead to 19-13.

Croskey-Merritt ran for 22 yards over the right side to end the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

McLaurin caught a 14 yard pass and Croskey-Merritt picked up 1 yard. After a two yard completion to Rachaad White, Daniels found Williams for 8 yards and the first down. After White gained 8 yards, Daniels ran for a 26 yard touchdown. The two-point extra point was good, on a throw to McLaurin to make the score 27-13.

The Giants came out throwing and Winston hit 4 straight passes for 48 yards. Robertson was called for questionable holding call giving the Giants another first down. After a false start and two incompletions, Mooney caught a 7 yard pass. On fourth and 8, the Giants were forced to call a timeout as the play clock ran down. Likely caught a 17 yard over the middle for the touchdown to cut the lead to 27-20.

Washington went three and out with a Daniels sack on third down.

After a picking up a first down, Washington had the Giants in third and 7 but allowed a 16-yard completion to Nabers. The Giants drove the ball down the field with Theo Johnson catching a 13 yard pass and Nabers a 17 yard touchdown on an all-out blitz. The Giants tie the game at 27-27.

McLaurin caught a 22 yard pass to start the drive but had an incompletion and sack on the next two plays. A third down incompletion, led to a Way punt which was down inside the 5 yard line with 6 seconds left.

The Giants took a knee to send the game into overtime.

Overtime

Washington won the coin toss and elected to kick the ball.

The Skattebo caught a 7 yard pass to start the drive which has a 15-yard facemask penalty tacked on to it.  After two incompletions, Winston ran for 15 yards on third down. A two-yard pass and an incompletion put the Giants in a third and 8 at the Washington 28-yard line. Robertson broke up the third down pass to Mooney.  Zvada missed a 46 yard field goal attempt.

Treylon Burks caught 13 yard pass to start the drive. White had a 3 yard run but the Giants blitzed on the pass forcing an incompletion. On third and 7, Dyami Brown caught a short pass, fumbled it and recovered his fumble. Way came on to punt which was fair caught at the Giants’ own 9 yard line.

Reaves almost intercepted the first Winston pass. Nabers caught an 8 yard reception. Skattebo ran for 19 yards on third down. Nabers then caught a 27 yard pass to the Washington 36 yard line. After losing two yards, Skattebo ran for 9 yards and then picked up the first down with a 5 yard run. Skattebo fumbled on the next carry giving Washington a big reprieve from a Giants game winning field goal. Shy Tuttle with the fumble recovery.

McLaurin caught a short pass for a 16 yard gain. Williams had a 6-yard reception. Daniels then scrambled for 16 yards. Burks caught a short pass on a blitz and ran hard for 13 yards.  White ran for 2 yards to the Giants 26 yard line. Instead of throwing the ball away on the last play with 12 seconds left, Daniels tried to run it. Washington was unable to regroup to spike the ball and the game ended tied at 27-27.

Thoughts

Questionable and conservative play calling was an issue during the game which gave the Giants an opportunity to stay in the game. Giving up a 14 point lead in the 4th quarter is something good NFL teams do not do. Inexcusable! This is on the coaching staff.

There were several bad calls by the refs again this week, one which ensured a Giants touchdown. But also, Washington still had a number mental mistakes that led to penalties. Every week and the coaches can’t seem to fix this.

With 12 seconds left why not try and kick the field goal? More boneheaded moves eliminated the possibility of winning the game. They had a chance to flip the division race around but didn’t.

The good news is Daniels looked good most of the game. Bad news was the inability to figure out the max blitz by the Giants. They finally did a screen to Burks in overtime. Where was that during the rest of the game?

The defense is still a mess at times and needs blitzes to generate a consistent pass rush.

If Dan Quinn wasn’t already on the hot seat, he is now, judging from the amount of boos at the end of the game.

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