EAST RUTHERFORD — The Giants didn’t save their season with Sunday’s 14-7 victory over the Commanders. They kept it on life support, though, when any other outcome makes this an obituary.
Ugly? Yes. Offensively inconsistent? Absolutely. But they’ll take a win, after finding just one other in their first seven tries, without a complaint. They’ll hope this begins a string of things finally going their way.
And maybe, just maybe, that will be the case.
Because reinforcements are coming. The schedule’s easing up. If a run’s going to happen — now’s the time.
“We’re trying to keep them stacking,” said safety Xavier McKinney.
You need a foundation to stack upon. The Giants, at the minimum, look to be developing that. Wink Martindale’s defense tormented all-world Bills quarterback Josh Allen a week ago. They did exactly the same to Sam Howell and Washington.
The Giants were as dominant as you’d expect a group that allowed just seven points to be. Howell entered MetLife having been sacked 34 times. New York pushed that number to 40 as Martindale dialed up exotic blitz after exotic blitz (25 total, per NextGen) to confuse the second-year passer. Five different Giants were involved in sacks, led by Dexter Lawrence’s two.
Washington’s lone touchdown came when a Sterling Shepard muffed punt handed them the ball at the Giants’ 21. It was one of only three times they ventured into the Giants red zone. Leonard Williams blocked a 26-yard field goal on one other, while Howell’s fourth-down pass to Curtis Samuel fell incomplete on the Commanders' final offensive possession.
The Giants were able to tee off on Howell, who finished 22-of-42 (52.4 percent) for 249 yards with an interception, because they forced the Commanders into obvious passing situations by eliminating the run. The Commanders ran for just 76 yards, led by Chris Rodriguez’s 31. They picked up just 14 first downs and were 1-of-15 on third down.