The Washington Commanders beat the New York Giants 24-21 Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, and they did it by finishing drives the Giants could not. Jayden Daniels threw 3 touchdown passes, the last a 32-yarder to Stefon Diggs late in the fourth quarter.

New York had the better night moving the ball, with 399 total yards and 6.2 yards per play. Washington had 340 yards and 5.1 per play. The difference came on third down and inside the 20, where Washington was cleaner.

How It Happened

Neither team scored in the first quarter. Drew Stevens broke the silence with a 46-yard field goal at 14:07 of the second. From there, the lead changed hands on every score.

Cam Skattebo put the Giants in front with a 1-yard run at 2:35 of the second quarter. Washington answered with 5 seconds left in the half, when Daniels found Ben Sinnott for a 1-yard touchdown to take the lead into the break.

Skattebo struck again at 10:22 of the third, this time from 13 yards, to flip it back to New York. Daniels responded at 6:56 with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Williams.

The Giants' biggest strike came at 8:13 of the fourth. J.J. McCarthy hit Isaiah Likely for a 66-yard touchdown and a New York lead. Washington had the final word with 57 seconds left, when Daniels connected with Diggs from 32 yards for the winner.

Key Performers

Jayden Daniels: 3 TD passes – 1 YDS to Ben Sinnott, 31 YDS to Antonio Williams, 32 YDS to Stefon Diggs
Cam Skattebo: 2 rushing TD – 1 YDS, 13 YDS
J.J. McCarthy: 1 TD pass – 66 YDS to Isaiah Likely
Washington passing: 23-33, 235 YDS, 2 INT
New York passing: 23-36, 283 YDS, 1 INT

Daniels was the difference. All 3 of Washington's touchdowns came through the air, and 2 of them came from outside the red zone. The Giants answered with Skattebo on the ground and one long strike, but never matched that late-game finish.

Why Washington Won

Third down told the story. Washington converted 7 of 14, half its chances, which kept drives alive in a game where it averaged just over 3 yards a carry. The Giants converted only 4 of 12.

The red zone was just as lopsided. Washington went 1 for 1. New York went 2 for 4 and never kicked a field goal, so two trips inside the 20 produced no points. In a game decided in the final minute, that is the margin.

Discipline mattered too. The Giants were flagged 6 times for 62 yards, while Washington drew 4 penalties for 17. Turnovers were even at 2 apiece, so New York cannot point to the giveaway column for this one.

Washington was not flawless. It threw 2 interceptions and went 0 for 2 on fourth down. It still won, because it was the more efficient offense on third down and in the red zone.

What It Means

Washington sits at 3-5-1, with a 1-3 road record. A late win away from home is the kind of result a team below .500 needs to stay relevant in the second half of the season.

The Giants are 5-3-1 and still have the better record, but this one stings. They outgained Washington and ran for more yards per carry. Leaving red-zone points on the field and losing the third-down battle cost them a game they won on the yardage sheet.