The Commanders started slow, with three losses in their first four games. That’s a messy situation to be sure, especially with the injuries piling up.
The NFC East, however, did Washington a favor. Dallas lost on Thursday night. Then the Philadelphia Eagles lost an early game in London.
That left Washington with a golden opportunity to match those teams at 2-3 with a victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. Beating the Giants would bunch the NFC East to the point that all four team would be within
a game of each other.
The key to all that, obviously, was a Commanders victory over the Giants. They had Jayden Daniels back and Terry McLaurin was able to play despite a hamstring.
Could they get the job done?
They did not. But they didn’t lose either. They should’ve at least set up a last-second field goal attempt, but ran when they had to clock it and ended up in a 27-27 tie as time expired.
That was an unreal blunder in a game the Commanders should’ve won in regulation if not for blown leads, and should’ve won in overtime with a makable field goal. Instead, this game ends in a tie and a completely blown opportunity to beat the Giants and hop out of last place in the NFC East and into the thick of the division race.
Honestly, that’s as bad as it gets. What we just watched was unbelievable.
Let’s examine at some key takeaways from this crucial Week 5 contest:
Jayden Daniels runs wild, embracing the brace
Daniels felt pressure from his left midway through the first quarter and moved to avoid it. He wasn’t able to, as Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter closed the gap and tackled Daniels by the ankles. The quarterback twisted towards the turf, falling in a way where he could used his left hand to ease his fall.
Daniels didn’t do that. He kept twisting and landed on his right hand, avoiding an awkward landing like what dislocated his elbow in Week 2.
Daniels was wearing a custom-fitted brace to protect his left elbow and avoid another dislocation, starting in a Week 5 game that was also his return to action.
Washington quarterback threw the ball well and wasn’t afraid to run and was aggressive when his team needed it. Daniels completed the game and finished this one and was an explosive player despite the unflattering conditions.
That was clear in the third quarter, when Daniels tucked it and ran away from everyone on a 38-yard touchdown run that put Washington up two scores.
That wasn’t the only time Daniels did that. He broke free early in the fourth quarter for a 26-yard touchdown run where he was untouched.
Daniels didn’t have a huge day passing, but was smart and effective throwing the ball while finding moments to run wild.
While there were several points where the Commanders were in firm control, but Washington kept needing to lean on Daniels. That was true once this game went to overtime.
Close calls go against Commanders
Amik Robertson intercepted a Jameis Winston pass just before the goal line and returned it 25 yards. He immediately started celebrating in the opposite end zone, unaware that a flag had been thrown.
Fellow cornerback Rasul Douglas eventually told him. Officials called for pass interference, which is tough to identify upon replay.
Robertson couldn’t believe it. Commanders fans couldn’t believe it either, as the reaction to the play suggests. Was it defensive holding? Either way, the officials got that call wrong.
The Giants were given a first-and-goal and Isaiah Likely eventually turned the opportunity into a touchdown. It was a clear momentum shift in this game, and cut Washington’s lead to six.
Daniels’ big touchdown run took it back, but many will play those seven Giants points shouldn’t have been scored. Especially with how close this game was at the end. That’s why the impact of that PI call looms so large.
Later in the game, Jameis Winston completed a fourth-down pass to Likely, who had the ball punched out right near the goal line, but he was ruled (after replay) to have crossed the plane before losing possession.
That kept things close late in a game where Washington twice had two-score, second-half leads. The Giants eventually took the lead with 14 unanswered points late in the fourth quarter to tie it at 27-27 on a Malik Nabers touchdown catch that ultimately sent it to overtime.
The Giants missed a field goal on the overtime’s opening drive and lost a fumble on the second, leaving Daniels to drive the team into position for the decisive points. Daniels hit a big run and then an important completion to Treylon Burks with roughly a minute left.
Then the Commanders inexcusably didn’t clock the ball and Daniels ran as the time expired and without a timeout. That’s how this game ended in a tie.
Defense falls apart, then stands tall
Washington’s defense was in firm control of Winston and the New York Giants offense, which couldn’t do much in the opening two quarters. Things were going well, with just three points allowed, a takeaway and a solid pass rush going strong.
Things were completely different in the second half. The Giants scored 24 second half mores and xxxx more in overtime. We address some close calls going against Washington that we addressed above. The Commanders were penalized heavily during those stretches at inopportune times.
The Giants started neutralizing the Commanders blitz and capitalizing on it down the field. Winston took control of the game late and had all the momentum entering the overtime period, with Likely and Nabers becoming difficult for a suspect Washington secondary to stop.
The Commanders held in the first overtime series but not in the second, allowing Winston and Cam Skatebo to beat them again and again.
Then, when they found a way to make a play. Odafe Oweh and Daron Payne were credited with a forced fumble of Skatebo that Shy Tuttle recovered deep in Commanders territory and well within field-goal range.
That gave the Commanders one more shot to win the game,
Chig Okonkwo steps up, shows out
The Commanders got tons of questions about tight end involvement during the week, and for good reason. The entire position group had 10 receptions for a league-low 65 yards on just 17 targets through four games.
Big free-agent signing Chig Okonkwo had been largely quiet early, and head coach Dan Quinn said that was due to lack of time with Daniels after excellent work together in training camp. The Commanders must’ve heard all that talk.
Washington’s first offensive snap was a designed play to Okonkwo. Then Daniels went back to him on the next pass for 23 yards.
He capitalized on another play designed specifically for him, connecting on a catch-and-run for 25 yards.
Okonkwo went completely quiet in the second half, which was a real problem, but the early going showed how impactful he can be when he’s involved.
