The Commanders didn’t score any touchdowns on Sunday, but that didn’t stop them from beating the Giants.
Seibert’s Shining Moment Lifts Commanders Over Giants
The spotlight was firmly on Austin Seibert as he took command of the game, kicking his way into glory with an impressive seven field goals! The final one, a nerve-wracking kick on the final play of the game, clenched the win for the Giants at home with a thrilling score of 21-18. For the Commanders, it was not just any win, but their first with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels at the helm. This victory surely made the decision to replace Cade York with Seibert this week look like a masterstroke.
Gridiron Drama: Kicking Woes and Heroics
In this nail-biting football spectacle, kicks were the rhythm of war drums on both sides of the field. Giants kicker Graham Gano unfortunately exited early due to a hamstring injury suffered right at the opening kickoff. This put the Giants in a pickle, leading them to avoid field goals and extra points. Complicating matters, punter Jamie Gillan missed an extra point in the first half, adding fuel to the fire. Gano’s absence loomed large as the Giants faced a critical fourth-and-4 from the Washington 22-yard line just before the two-minute warning. Daniel Jones’s incomplete pass gave Washington a golden opportunity to seal the deal with their own kick.
Giants’ Offensive Spark: A Glimmer Amidst the Gloom
Despite the setback, Daniel Jones managed a commendable performance, going 16-of-28 for 178 yards and two touchdowns. One of these scores was a milestone—the first career touchdown for first-round pick Malik Nabers, who lit up the field with 10 catches for 127 yards. Bravo, Nabers! You’ve arrived!
Commanders’ Offensive Symphony
On the other side, Jayden Daniels, cool as a cucumber under center, completed 23-of-29 passes for 226 yards. But the Commanders’ strength lay also in their ground game. They racked up an impressive 215 rushing yards with Daniels contributing 44, Austin Ekeler adding 38, and Brian Robinson leading the pack with 117 yards. This harmonious blend of passing and rushing was music to the ears of Washington’s fans, a stark contrast to their unbalanced performance against the Buccaneers in the opener. As they move forward to face the Bengals next week, the Commanders will undoubtedly hope to carry this rhythm with them.
Giants in a Tight Spot
While Nabers’ dazzling debut offers a gleam of hope, there was precious little else to cheer for Giants fans on Sunday. With a looming clash in Cleveland next weekend, another loss might just cast a pall of doom and gloom over the heads of Daniel Jones, head coach Brian Daboll, and General Manager Joe Schoen.
