By David McDonnell
This was another game that went down to the wire this weekend.
Two weeks ago, the Giants and the Commanders played out a draw after four quarters and overtime. The prospect of overtime looked again on the cards when Brian Robinson ran into the endzone on second and goal but for a flag call on Terry McLaurin for what I am still unsure.
It left the Commanders with second and goal from the six yard line. Three plays later it was 4th and six and I’ll get back to this stage near the end….
First quarter
The first half was taken over by the Giants rookie DE Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The former Oregon Duck was immense and after getting three first quarter sacks, he then got the strip sack on QB Taylor Heinicke, gathered the ball and scored a touchdown.
On the next Giants drive, Sequon Barkley was heavily involved and also ran it for a touchdown from close range.
It gave the Giants a 14-3 lead at the break.
Washington had a change of emphasis in the third quarter and started to find McLaurin to telling effect. Five passing plays over 10 yards concluded when Heinicke found rookie Jahan Dotson in the endzone to make it 14-12.
The two-point conversion looked good but was ruled out for a contentious call Ron Rivera certainly didn’t agree with. It put the Commanders a few yards back and Joey Slye missed the PAT kick.
Fourth Quarter
Barkley was running well all night and the Giants kept in front from the boot of Graham Gano to make it 20-12 with two minutes to go.
It left Heinicke with a long drive and he brought play into the Giants half with a pass to Curtis Samuel.
Later in the drive Heinicke should have been picked by Nick McCloud.
Heinicke then almost reached the endzone and i thought he would dive for the pylon for his signature move but was stopped out of play at the one yard line.
That’s when Robinson crashed over but the touchdown was called back because of a flag. Two plays later on 4th and 6, it came down to a last play.
The New York Football Giants held out but most people could understand why Ron wasn’t happy with the no pass interference call on the last play.
The results leave the NFC playoff picture with the Giants in sixth position on 8-5-1 and the Commanders the seventh seed in NFC with 7-6-1. The Giants also gave the head to head advantage with three weeks of the NFL regular season to go!!!
Watch out for our Monday Review Column a little later.
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