Daniels hits Diggs with 57 seconds left as Commanders rally past Giants 24-21
Jayden Daniels threw his first two interceptions of the season in the fourth quarter on Thursday night. Then he needed only three plays to win the game. His 32-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs with 57 seconds left gave the Washington Commanders a 24-21 win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Four lead changes and two picks
The teams traded the lead four times in the second half, ProFootballTalk reported. The Giants went ahead 21-17 with 8:13 left on Isaiah Likely's 66-yard catch-and-run.
Daniels then threw his first interception of the season, NFL.com said. With 5:27 left and Washington at the Giants' 24, safety Jevon Holland took the ball away from Chig Okonkwo at the 2-yard line.
'Who let the dogs out?'
Facing fourth-and-1 at their own 11 with 3:27 left, the Giants sent out backup quarterback Jameis Winston, who yelled: "Hut One. Hut Two. Hut Three. Who let the dogs out?" The Commanders did not bite, the Giants took a delay of game, and they punted.
Washington gave the ball straight back. On fourth-and-2 at its own 45 with 2:15 left, Ar'Darius Washington stepped in front of Okonkwo for Daniels' second interception. But the Giants could not run out the clock, and Washington's defense forced another punt, ESPN reported.
On the final drive, Washington needed only three plays to go 71 yards, helped by a 33-yard pass interference penalty on Deonte Banks. Diggs did the rest, then shouted "I'm like that!" into the cameras, according to The Washington Post.
When I had the opportunity to go out there and win the game, take a deep breath, go out there and just capitalize on the moment. I didn't want to let my team down.
The numbers
| Player | Team | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Jayden Daniels | Commanders | 23/33, 249 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Stefon Diggs | Commanders | 6 rec, 83 yds, TD |
| Cam Skattebo | Giants | 18 car, 78 yds, 2 TD |
| Isaiah Likely | Giants | 9 rec, 127 yds, TD |
Source: ProFootballTalk recap.
The Giants outgained Washington 399 yards to 340 but missed a field goal and turned the ball over twice.
Why it mattered
Three of Washington's previous four games had come down to the final minute and it went 0-2-1 in them, ESPN reported, and this was Daniels' first game-winning drive since a 2024 wild-card game. Diggs called his quarterback "Baby Kobe."
It was the second game-winning touchdown Diggs has caught in the final minute of a game, NFL.com said; the first was the "Minneapolis Miracle" for Minnesota in the 2017 Divisional Round. Washington is still two games behind the Giants in the NFC East.