How the Commanders seized redemption against the Giants

Join the huddle. Sign up here for Ravens updates in your inbox.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — With 59 seconds on the clock and the New York Giants up by four, Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs stopped at the goal line, spun around and trust fell into the end zone.

Two seconds earlier, quarterback Jayden Daniels realized Diggs would break away from his defenders. He flung his hands up before bringing them down and flexing in celebration.

The team had completed its own trust exercise, letting the fate of the game fall into Daniels’ arm, and he rewarded them with a 24-21, season-saving victory.

It wasn’t a sure thing, though. After eight games without an interception, Daniels threw two on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter Monday night — a seemingly dire turn for a team that has often been fragile.

Daniels had hit his target on three of his four deep shots in a game that continued his resurgence. But on the fifth, the ball found Giants safety Jevon Holland at the 2-yard line instead of tight end Chig Okonkwo.

That forced the Washington defense back onto the field to stop a Giants offense that had smoked them with a 66-yard Isaiah Likely touchdown. It could have left the Commanders rattled, but they weren’t fazed by the rare Daniels mistake.

“It happens,” cornerback Amik Robertson said. “[...] He trusts us to be his defense, to put the smoke out. And that’s what we did. We didn’t blink.”

Robertson and the Washington defense gave up nine yards to Cam Skattebo on the first two downs, and it appeared the Giants would have an easy third-down conversion. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston came in to try to push forward for the final yard. The initial ruling was a first down, but head coach Dan Quinn threw a timely challenge flag; it appeared that linebacker Sonny Styles and defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. had actually gotten the stop. Replay officials agreed, and the Giants faced fourth-and-1.

Winston again came onto the field and lined up as if he might try to get the first down. Instead, he tried to dupe the Commanders into jumping offside — eventually chanting “Who let the dogs out?”

The Commanders didn’t bite — a positive for a team that has not always executed well in clutch moments this season.

Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh credited team leaders for rising to the moment, keeping everyone apprised of where to be and how to avoid a crucial mistake. It was a clear momentum shift.

And then Daniels threw another interception.

At that point, it would have been easy to lose faith, Quinn said. But Daniels didn’t falter.

“That’s one thing he does really good is just staying level the whole time,” right guard Sam Cosmi said. “So he showed emotion on the exciting parts and then obviously the bad part, but he comes back down or comes back up and gets level.”

Daniels’ steadiness spread. Left tackle Brandon Coleman said there was “no clench” from the team.

Washington’s defense again saw Skattebo gain nine yards on two carries. Again, they faced third-and-1. Styles, the team’s ultra-athletic first-round pick, dropped quarterback J.J. McCarthy for a loss of one on the next play.

“I don’t know how he made that play,” cornerback Rasul Douglas said.

Watching that from the sidelines, wide receiver Stefon Diggs thought, “We’ve got a chance.”

Daniels said he took a deep breath and went out and tried to capitalize on the moment. He immediately took a deep shot again. It fell incomplete, but Treylon Burks drew a pass interference call.

A scramble and a short pass later, the Giants presented a cover zero look — meaning no safeties were defending the deep middle of the field — that allowed Daniels and Diggs to try out something they had worked on through the week. Daniels “gave a little signal to Stef, and he ran the slant, and the rest is history.”

Daniels dropped back to the 40 and found Diggs a step ahead of his defender at the 26. Diggs broke two tackles at the 17-yard line. At the 12-yard line, Daniels started celebrating. At the 8-yard line, Diggs started to slow down. At the 2-yard line, he pulled up before turning at the one and falling backwards for the go-ahead.

“I was kind of worried about how much time we had left,” Diggs said. “I was wondering if I should have wasted a couple more seconds.”

But after the last two drives, faith in their defense was high. Cosmi said he just hoped they didn’t let the Giants get into field goal range to force another overtime.

McCarthy tried to connect with wide receiver Darnell Mooney in the red zone, but Douglas dropped the would-be interception.

“... Seeing Rasul drop that was crazy,” Robertson said. “Rasul would never drop picks.”

The game had one last moment of redemption in store.

McCarthy threw toward Douglas again. He plucked the ball out of the air and kept the season alive.