Washington Commanders Stun New York Giants 24-21 as Jayden Daniels Delivers Dramatic Fourth-Quarter Comeback

By Brian Hradsky

Maryland Sports Blog | November 13, 2026 | NFL Week 10 Recap

FINAL: Washington Commanders 24, New York Giants 21

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels delivered another memorable comeback Thursday night, connecting with Stefon Diggs for a 32-yard touchdown with 57 seconds remaining to secure a dramatic 24-21 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. The win kept Washington’s postseason hopes alive and provided a much-needed boost to a team fighting to remain competitive in the NFC East. Daniels overcame two costly fourth-quarter interceptions to engineer the decisive scoring drive and silence the New York crowd.

The Commanders improved to 3-5-1, while the Giants dropped to 5-3-1 after failing to protect a late lead. Washington’s victory was particularly important because the division rivals had played to a 27-27 tie earlier in the season. With Thursday’s result, Washington gained the head-to-head tiebreaker over New York and moved within two games of the division leaders.

Daniels Overcomes Mistakes to Deliver Victory

Jayden Daniels finished the night completing 23 of 33 passes for 249 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also contributed 28 rushing yards on 10 carries, giving Washington an additional threat outside the pocket. His two interceptions were particularly surprising because he had opened the season with 207 consecutive passes without throwing one. Despite those mistakes, Daniels showed the resilience that made him one of the NFL’s most exciting young quarterbacks.

Washington’s offense received important contributions from several pass catchers throughout the contest. Tight end Ben Sinnott caught a 1-yard touchdown with five seconds remaining in the first half, helping the Commanders take a 10-7 lead into halftime. Antonio Williams later hauled in a 31-yard touchdown reception during the third quarter, giving Washington a 17-14 advantage. Those scores set the stage for Diggs to become the hero in the closing minute.

Giants Take Control in Fourth Quarter

New York quarterback J.J. McCarthy delivered an impressive performance despite the loss, completing 23 of 36 passes for a career-high 293 yards. His biggest play came midway through the fourth quarter when he connected with tight end Isaiah Likely for a 66-yard touchdown. The explosive play put the Giants ahead 21-17 with 8:13 remaining and appeared to place Washington in serious trouble. Likely finished with nine receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Cam Skattebo also played an important role in New York’s offensive production. He scored on a 1-yard touchdown run during the second quarter before adding a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the third. Skattebo finished with 122 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, providing the Giants with a productive offensive weapon. However, New York struggled to sustain drives when protecting its fourth-quarter lead.

The Giants appeared positioned to secure the victory after defensive backs Jevon Holland and Ar’Darius Washington intercepted Daniels on consecutive Washington possessions. Those turnovers gave New York opportunities to control the clock and put the game away. Instead, the Giants repeatedly surrendered possession, allowing Daniels another chance to lead his offense down the field. Washington’s defense deserves considerable credit for preventing New York from capitalizing on those late turnovers.

Diggs Delivers the Game-Winning Touchdown

With less than two minutes remaining, Washington received another opportunity to rescue its season. A defensive pass interference penalty helped extend the Commanders’ final touchdown drive, putting Daniels in position to attack the Giants’ secondary. Daniels found Diggs over the middle, and the veteran receiver turned the completion into a 32-yard touchdown. The score gave Washington a 24-21 advantage with 57 seconds remaining.

The touchdown was the 80th receiving score of Diggs’ NFL career, making him the 30th player in league history to reach that milestone. His veteran presence proved invaluable during Washington’s most important offensive possession of the night. The play also demonstrated why the Commanders need experienced receivers capable of producing in critical situations. Diggs provided exactly that when Washington’s season appeared to be slipping away.

New York still had an opportunity to answer, but Washington’s defense made the final decisive play. Cornerback Rasul Douglas intercepted McCarthy with approximately 25 seconds remaining, ending the Giants’ comeback attempt. The turnover secured Washington’s third victory of the season and delivered a disappointing finish for the home team.

Complete Scoring Summary

Quarter	Scoring play	Score
2nd	Drew Stevens 46-yard FG	WAS 3-0
2nd	Cam Skattebo 1-yard TD run	NYG 7-3
2nd	Ben Sinnott 1-yard TD reception	WAS 10-7
3rd	Skattebo 13-yard TD run	NYG 14-10
3rd	Antonio Williams 31-yard TD reception	WAS 17-14
4th	Isaiah Likely 66-yard TD reception	NYG 21-17
4th	Stefon Diggs 32-yard TD reception	WAS 24-21

All touchdowns followed by successful extra-point kicks. Source: New York Giants official game statistics.

Statistical Breakdown

Category	Washington	New York
Total yards	340	399
Rushing yards	105	116
Net passing yards	235	283
First downs	20	21
Third-down conversions	7/14	4/12
Turnovers	2	2
Time of possession	30:22	29:38

New York actually outgained Washington by 59 total yards and generated one more first down. The Giants also averaged 6.2 yards per offensive play compared with Washington’s 5.1, indicating that New York moved the ball more efficiently overall. However, Washington converted half of its third-down opportunities while the Giants converted only four of 12 attempts. That difference helped Washington remain competitive despite the Giants’ advantage in total offense.

What the Victory Means for Washington

The Commanders entered Thursday night needing a victory to avoid falling further behind in the NFC East. Their 3-5-1 record still leaves significant work ahead, but the victory creates an opportunity to build momentum entering the second half of the season. Washington has now avoided losing both meetings against the division-leading Giants, an important accomplishment in a competitive division race. The challenge will be turning Thursday’s dramatic performance into consistent results over the coming weeks.

For Daniels, the victory represents another important moment in his development as Washington’s franchise quarterback. His two interceptions nearly cost the Commanders the game, but his response demonstrated an ability to recover from mistakes under pressure. Washington cannot rely on late-game heroics every week, particularly against opponents capable of protecting leads more effectively. Nevertheless, the ability to deliver in high-pressure situations remains one of Daniels’ most valuable qualities.

MSB Take: Washington Shows the Fight It Needs

The Washington Commanders have experienced plenty of frustrating moments this season, but Thursday’s victory offered a reminder of what this team can accomplish when its offense and defense respond together. Daniels deserves credit for recovering from two interceptions, but the defense deserves just as much recognition for giving him another opportunity. Without those late stops, Diggs never gets the chance to make the game-winning reception. This was a complete team effort when it mattered most.

Washington still has significant weaknesses to address, particularly its inconsistency on offense and inability to maintain momentum throughout games. The Commanders cannot expect to overcome multiple late turnovers against every opponent, and their 3-5-1 record reflects those struggles. However, a victory against the NFC East leaders provides something this team desperately needed: confidence. If Washington can build on this performance, its season could become much more interesting.

The Commanders will next host the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, November 23, following an extended break. New York will host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, November 22. Both teams have important games ahead as the NFC East standings continue to develop.