WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE
In a competition with Deonte Banks that has carried into the regular season, Cor'Dale Flott started opposite Paulson Adebo at cornerback. Flott almost grabbed an interception on the sideline on the Commanders' first drive, which ended with a punt.
Inside linebacker Micah McFadden (leg/foot) was carted off the field in the first quarter and was replaced by Darius Muasau, who played in 15 games with seven starts as a rookie last season.
The first sack of the season went to Brian Burns in the second quarter for a loss of six yards on 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. The second sack of the season went to … Burns again four plays later. However, the drive resulted in a Jacory Croskey-Merritt touchdown run to give the Commanders a 14-3 lead, which they took into halftime. Washington could have added to it, but Daniels was called for intentional grounding from inside the Giants' five-yard line, resulting in 10-second runoff to end the second quarter.
Outside linebacker Abdul Carter, the third overall pick, got on the board with a half-sack in the first half after Thibodeaux got the initial pressure.
The Giants allowed 87 rushing yards on 6.2 yards per carry in the first half. For the game, Washington totaled 220 yards on 32 carries (6.9-yard average).
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS
Jamie Gillan, not Graham Gano, handled the opening kickoff. New this season, the dead ball spot of a touchback if the ball lands in the end zone and is downed in the end zone by the receiving team is now the 35-yard line (was the 30 in 2024). The "dynamic kickoff" is designed to promote more returns and resemble a play from scrimmage, with players lining up closer together. Gano then took over kickoff duties.
Carter was inches away from blocking a punt in the second quarter and then got his hand on another in the second half. The partial tip led to a 31-yard punt by two-time Pro Bowler Tress Way.
Gano made it a one-possession game on a 55-yard field goal with 1:43 left in the third quarter. Gano has now made 26 field goals of 50 yards or more as a Giant. The next closest is Joe Danelo (1976-1982) with nine.
IN-GAME INJURY REPORT
NYG: LB Micah McFadden (leg/foot)
NYG: OT Andrew Thomas (foot), S Beau Brade, OL Evan Neal, TE Thomas Fidone II, DL Darius Alexander, QB Jameis Winston (emergency 3rd QB)
WAS: RB Chris Rodriguez, ILB Ale Kaho, MLB Kain Medrano, OT Trenton Scott, OT George Fant, DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste, QB Josh Johnson (emergency 3rd QB)
SATURDAY ROSTER MOVES
NYG: DL Elijah Garcia (activated from practice squad)
WAS: C Michael Deiter (activated from practice squad), WR Chris Moore (activated from practice squad)