The Giants were *this close* to taking total control of the NFC East, practically smelling it, but man, did the Commanders ever put the brakes on that Thursday night. Washington, after Jayden Daniels tossed two picks back-to-back, somehow pulled off a late-game surge in East Rutherford, with Daniels finding Stefon Diggs for the go-ahead score. Then Rasul Douglas sealed it with a game-ending interception off J.J. McCarthy. Even with some killer play from McCarthy and Cam Skattebo for New York, the fight for that division crown just got way, way hotter after the Commanders walked out of MetLife victorious.
Jayden Daniels’ Confidence Is Straight Up Baller
Forget those two second-half interceptions Jayden Daniels threw, his first of the season. Yeah, Commanders fans probably hated seeing that, but honestly, it was kinda encouraging. Even rocking a huge brace on his non-throwing arm and with Terry McLaurin sidelined, Daniels looked totally at home just slinging it downfield. He didn’t let those turnovers rattle him, didn’t play scared, and actually WON the game with that touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs. Diggs even said after the game that Daniels was “Kobe Bryant” in the huddle after those picks, unflinching. The Commanders might be short on weapons this season, but for the first time in a long time, they look like they can hang in any game because their QB is playing with the kind of confidence we last saw in 2024. That’s a huge deal for their season.
J.J. McCarthy’s Near-Masterpiece Despite The Ending
Now, yeah, the game ended with a McCarthy interception, but don’t let that fool you. The pass was actually pretty well placed, and Malik Nabers might be kicking himself a bit about how he played it. That turnover aside, Thursday was a straight-up strong night for J.J. McCarthy. The former Vikings QB looked comfy and confident in the pocket. His touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely, threading that needle between defenders with pressure right in his face? That might be the most impressive moment of his young career. He threw a SEED to Likely, who just went and did the rest. The Giants will want to tighten up that offense after the loss, no doubt, but McCarthy, with nearly 300 yards, played like a guy who absolutely *can* lead this team to an NFC East title. You gotta love that grit.
Reese and Styles Showed Out
And then there’s the Arvell Reese vs. Sonny Styles debate. Honestly, looking at the numbers from Thursday, it was almost impossible to tell them apart. Both racked up 13 tackles, with Styles getting one for a loss. But if you ask me, Reese had the more solid game overall. After dropping a three-sack performance last week, Reese just kept impressing as an open-field tackler and played cleaner than Styles. He’s making a serious case for Defensive Rookie of the Year, man. You can see it, he plays so free, it all looks so natural to him.
So, where does that leave us? The Giants couldn’t quite grab total control of the NFC East, but they know they’ve got a QB in McCarthy who can make a real run at it. The Commanders, meanwhile, got their swagger back with Daniels playing like a legend. This fight for the division crown just got intensely real, and you know both these teams are going to be battling it out all season long. Next time these guys hit the field, you better believe every snap is gonna matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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