Giants receiver Malik Nabers took coach John Harbaugh’s week-by-week approach into Thursday’s rematch with Washington. After the teams tied in Week 5, Nabers felt the rematch carried extra significance.
This time, there was no tie. Washington beat New York 24-21, earning a much-needed win over its NFC East rival.
J.J. McCarthy made his first home start for the Giants since arriving in a late-September trade from Minnesota. He had played college football at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh, John’s brother, and finished Thursday’s game with a touchdown and an interception.
McCarthy threw for a career-high 293 yards despite having injured his right hip against Philadelphia just days earlier. He briefly left that game, then returned as New York went on to win 19-11.
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels threw three touchdown passes and two interceptions at MetLife Stadium, keeping the Commanders in the hunt in a closely contested NFC East.
The comeback win put Washington two games behind division-leading New York and gave the Commanders the tiebreaker after last month’s draw.
Daniels’ two interceptions, thrown on his 208th and 211th attempts of the season, looked costly when Jevon Holland and Ar’Darius Washington picked him off. The Giants then took the lead midway through the fourth quarter, as McCarthy connected with Isaiah Likely for a 66-yard touchdown.
But New York couldn’t run the ball well enough to drain the clock. Jameis Winston tried to draw Washington offside with a hard count that included barking and the words “Who Let the Dogs Out.” It didn’t work, and the Giants gave Daniels several more chances by punting repeatedly.
Washington hosts Cincinnati on Monday night in Week 11. The Giants play Jacksonville the day before.
