Austin Seibert delivered a nail-biting finish, kicking a team-high seven field goals, including a dramatic 30-yard game-winner as the clock expired, vaulting the host Washington Commanders to a thrilling 21-18 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday in Landover, Maryland.
The spotlight also shone brightly on Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels, who completed an impressive 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards. Daniels showcased his poise under pressure as he orchestrated a picture-perfect game-winning drive, covering 65 yards in the final 2:04.
Contributing to Washington’s success, Brian Robinson surged to a career-high 133 yards on just 17 carries. This monumental performance helped the Commanders (1-1) snap an agonizing NFL-record nine-game losing streak that dated back to last season.
Seibert, a well-traveled kicker with stints on four other NFL teams, made history by converting all seven of his field goal attempts. This feat broke Washington’s previous game record, which stood at five field goals made by different kickers. The NFL record remains eight, set by Tennessee’s Rob Bironas against Houston in 2007.
For the Giants, quarterback Daniel Jones entered the matchup with an impressive 5-1-1 record against Washington and kept his composure by completing 16 of 18 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Despite his valiant efforts, the Giants slipped to a 0-2 start for the season.
Giants rookie Malik Nabers was a standout performer, hauling in 10 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown. However, Nabers faltered at a crucial moment, dropping a pass on a fourth-down play with 2:04 remaining, handing the Commanders the final possession.
Capitalizing immediately, Daniels showcased his precision with a pivotal 34-yard strike to Noah Brown, and later, set up Seibert’s game-winning field goal with a crucial 14-yard run to the Giants’ 10-yard line.
The Giants briefly held the lead in the fourth quarter, trailing 15-12 before Jones engineered a 13-play, 70-yard drive. He capped it with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Wan’Dale Robinson on a third-and-goal play, putting New York ahead 18-15 with 11:32 left. However, the two-point conversion pass failed, leaving the door open for Washington’s comeback.
Washington dominated time of possession throughout the game, holding the ball for an imposing 37:32 minutes compared to New York’s 22:28. However, the Commanders’ offense was marred by false start fouls, forcing them to settle for field goals on four occasions.
The Giants were significantly impacted by the loss of veteran kicker Graham Gano, who entered the game on the injured list and was hurt on the opening kickoff. He was assisted off the field and did not return.
New York’s backup kicker, Jamie Gillan, attempted an extra point, but it was deflected. They subsequently tried for two-point conversions after their second and third touchdowns but failed both times.
Devin Singletary’s gritty 16 carries for 95 yards, including a game-changing touchdown late in the first half, gave the Giants a 12-9 halftime lead, adding another thrilling chapter to this pulsating NFL encounter.
