Hogs Haven
The Commanders win by a score of 27-22 to move to 7-2 and remain in -first place in the NFC East
The Commanders and Giants met in Week 2 at Northwest Stadium in Landover and played 60 minutes of football without the winning team scoring a touchdown. Washington’s (then) brand new kicker, Austin Seibert, was the MVP of the game, kicking 7 field goals on 7 attempts to win the game 21-18.
In the intervening weeks, Washington went on to win 5 of 6 games to reach 6-2, while the Giants were 2-4 and came into this game on a 3-game losing streak. Any hope the Giants had of salvaging the season probably required them to get the Week 9 victory against the visiting Commanders.
In the NFC East standings, Washington had a half-game lead over the 5-2 Philadelphia Eagles, who would play the 2-6 Jaguars in the late afternoon. With Philly likely to pick up a win in that home game (they did), the Commanders were focused on winning this road game against the Giants to maintain their position atop the division.
In recent years, Washington had struggled against the Giants, and in particular against starting quarterback Daniel Jones. But this 2024 iteration of the Commanders was a new and different team; the ghosts that had haunted the franchise for the past couple of decades appeared to have been exorcised, and a new day seemed to have dawned. Getting the win in New Jersey to earn a season sweep of the Giants seemed like a significant step in closing the book on the old history and moving forward with the new story of Washington football.
The Commanders went into this game without starting running back, Brian Robinson, who was out with a hamstring injury.
Commanders force a 3 & out on the opening drive
The Giants received the opening kickoff and started their first offensive drive at their 30-yard line following a 2-yard return.
The drive went nowhere; a 3 & out followed by a punt, with Washington taking over at its own 30-yard line.
Commanders give the ball right back
Like the Giants had, the Commanders opened the game with a 3 & out drive, punting the ball to the Giants, who were pinned deep after a penalty on the return, setting up for their 2nd drive of the game at their own 7-yard line.
The game’s first (and only) turnover
The Giants managed 3 consecutive first downs that put the ball at the Washington 29-yard line. On the next play, Daniel Jones was hit in the pocket by Dante Fowler and the ball ended up on the ground. The officials ruled it to be an incomplete pass to Devin Singletary, but the challenge by Dan Quinn saw the decision reversed and the Commanders were awarded possession of a fumble recovered by Bobby Wagner.
Washington’s 3-play touchdown drive
The Commanders took advantage of the sudden change with a 3-play, 31-yard drive that culminated in...
