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'We're The Better Team!' New York Giants 14-7 Over Washington Commanders Tells A Different Truth; Live Blog

'We're The Better Team!' New York Giants 14-7 Over Washington Commanders Tells A Different Truth; Live Blog

Nathaniel Marrero

In this story:

Maybe the Washington Commanders truly have confidence in their program. Or maybe the locker room mirrors are too foggy to see the truth.

Said QB Sam Howell after Sunday's Week 7 loss to the lowly New York Giants by a 14-7 score: “We feel like we were the better team, but that wasn’t the case today.”

Giants vs. Commanders Notebook: 3 Takeaways from Washington's Heartbreaking Loss

No, indeed. And so the Commanders could not win their second straight game, could not avoid falling to 3-4 and could not avoid the obvious questions that will come for a team that says the right things but too often on Sundays does not do the right things.

So how did we get here? Follow along for our chronological look ...

That's the goal for Washington when they head to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants at 1 p.m.

Today marks the first time since the NFC East rivals square off since last season when both teams were vying for a playoff spot last December. The Giants (1-5) got a defensive stand in the game's final seconds to beat Washington 20-12 and get a leg up for a Wild Card spot. 

The Giants' offense has gotten off to a putrid start to begin the season, only averaging 11.8 points per game, the worst in the NFL. They've only scored three point in its two games at home. New York showed signs of life in its last game against the Buffalo Bills, but couldn't score from one yard out on the game's final play to lose 14-9. 

Tyrod Taylor is expected to get his second consecutive start under center for New York. Daniel Jones is questionable but is expected to miss his second straight game with a neck injury and still hasn't been cleared for contact as of Saturday. 

The Giants will also be without offensive tackles Andrew Thomas and Matt Peart and center John Michael Schmitz.

Washington got back on track last Sunday and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 24-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The defense had its best outing of the season, as they had three interceptions and forced two turnovers on downs. 

The Commanders enter their divisional matchup as healthy as they've been this season. Cornerback Kendall Fuller, who was the only player who didn't practice on Thursday, will be active. 

Sam Howell has been sacked five times in the first half.
Sam Howell has been sacked five times in the first half / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

WHAT: Washington Commanders (3-3) at New York Giants (1-5)

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, 1 p.m. ET

WHERE: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (82,500)

TELEVISION: CBS / FuboTV (try it free)

RADIO: WMAL 105.9

TICKETS via SI TICKETS

Betting via SI SportsBook

SPREAD: Commanders -2.5

TOTAL: 37.5

MONEYLINE: Commanders -150, Giants +125

1ST QUARTER:

The Giants get the ball to start the game and the opening kickoff goes for a touchback. 

Saquon Barkley is stopped for a one-yard loss. Tyrod Taylor throws it away. On third and long, Taylor's pass is batted down by Quan Martin.

Jamison Crowder returns the punt nine yards to the Commanders' 31-yard line.

End of possession

Brian Robinson runs for a yard. Sam Howell is sacked by Dexter Lawrence and Micah McFadden for an eight-yard loss. Charles Leno jumps early for a false start before third down. On third and 21, Howell's pass to Logan Thomas gains 14 yards but is still well short of a first down. 

Tress Way's punt is muffed by Eric Gray but New York recovers it at its 11-yard line.

End of possession

Taylor completes a pass to Shepard for three yards. Barkley gets stopped for no gain. On third and six, Taylor finds Jalin Hyatt for a 32-yard gain and a first down.

Barkley runs for six yards to the Commanders' 46-yard line. Barkley gets another carry and runs for 15 yards to move the chains again.

Matt Brieda runs for six yards then gets another handoff on second down and runs for two yards. On third and three, Taylor's pass intended for Hyatt is incomplete. 

Graham Gano's 42-yard field goal is no good. The game remains scoreless with 8:20 left in the first quarter.

End of possession

Howell's pass is incomplete. Chris Rodriguez Jr. runs for four yards. On third and six, Howell's pass is also incomplete. 

Gray calls for a fair catch at the Giants' 11-yard line.

End of possession

Barkley runs for five yards. Taylor's pass to Barkley gains two yards. On third and three, Taylor scrambles for two yards and is short of a first down. 

Crowder fields the punt and only gains three yards on the return to the Commanders' 38-yard line.

End of possession

Howell completes the pass to Curtis Samuel for an 18-yard gain to the Giants' 44-yard line. 

Robinson runs for six yards. Howell's pass is incomplete. On third and four, Howell is sacked for a nine-yard loss by Leonard WIlliams. 

Shepard calls for a fair catch at the Giants' 12-yard line with 3:51 left in the first quarter.

End of possession

Barkley runs for three yards. Taylor completes the pass to Wan'Dale Robinson for 22 yards. 

Taylor completes another pass for a big gain. this time to Darius Slayton for 23 yards to Washington's 40-yard line. 

Taylor completes his third straight pass for a first down, this time finding Darren Waller for 14 yards. 

Taylor keeps it and runs for 20 yards to the Commanders' eight-yard line.

Montez Sweat sacks Taylor for a four-yard loss. That's the final play of the first quarter.

End of the quarter

2ND QUARTER:

On second and goal, Barkley runs for seven yards to Washington's five-yard line. Taylor keeps it and runs for three yards before going out of bounds. Holding on the Giants are accepted and make it third and goal from the 15-yard line. On third and goal, Taylor finds Waller in the end zone for a touchdown. 

Gano's extra point is good.

Giants 7, Commanders 0

Byron Pringle returns the kickoff to Washington's 38-yard line. 

Howell is forced to throw it away. Robinson runs for three yards. On third and seven, Howell is sacked by Jason Pinnock for a nine-yard loss. 

Tress Way's punt is downed at the Giants' 16-yard line with 12:33 left in the first half. 

End of possession

Taylor's pass to Isaiah Hodgins gains four yards. Barkley is stopped for no gain. On third and six, Taylor's deep pass to Hyatt is incomplete.

The punt is muffed by Crowder then goes out of bounds. 

End of possession

Rodriguez is stopped for no gain. Howell scrambles for 11 yards and first down.

Howell's pass to Jahan Dotson gains eight yards. Howell goes deep and he's picked off by Deonte Banks. A personal foul on Andrew Wylie will tack on 15 yards to the return. 

End of possession

The Giants begin the drive at the Commanders' 48-yard line. Taylor finds Waller for 16 yards.

Taylor dumps it off to Barkley and he runs it into the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown. 

Gano's extra point is good with 8:56 left in the second quarter.

Giants 14, Commanders 0

End of possession

Gano's kickoff goes through the end zone for a touchback.

Robinson runs for five yards. Howell's first target to Terry McLaurin is incomplete. Before third and five, a delay of game pushes them back five yards. On third and 10, Howell is forced to throw it away.

Shepard goes down at the Giants' 27-yard line. There are offsetting penalties so Washington will punt again. Shepard returns the punt four yards to the Giants' 28-yard line with 7:44 left in the second quarter.

End of possession

Taylor completes the pass to Waller for 26 yards to the Commanders' 46-yard line. 

Taylor is sacked by Chase Young for a 13-yard loss. On second and 23, Taylor's pass to Slayton is incomplete. On third and 23, Taylor throws another incompletion. 

Crowder returns the punt 16 yards to the Commanders' 24-yard line.

End of possession

Robinson is stopped for no gain and holding on Saahdiq Charles will push Washington back 10 yards to make it first and 20. Howell's pass is batted down. On second and 20, Howell's pass to Dotson gains 10 yards. On third and 10, Howell is sacked by Kayvon Thibodeaux and Lawrence for an 11-yard loss.

Shepard returns the punt five yards to the Giants' 39-yard line with 4:19 left in the half.

End of possession

Barkley runs for two yards. Taylor's pass to Waller gains six yards. On third and two, Taylor scrambles for three yards for a first down at midfield.

Barkley runs for three yards. The game has reached the two-minute warning. Taylor's pass is incomplete. On third and seven, Taylor is sacked Young for a nine-yard loss and Washington calls its first timeout with 1:49 left in the first half. 

Crowder calls for a fair catch at the Commanders' 10-yard line.

End of possession

Howell's pass to Thomas gains nice yards. Howell is sacked again by Lawrence and Thibodeauz again for a 10-yard loss. New York calls its first timeout with 1:14 left in the first half. On third and 11, Howell's pass is incomplete.

Shepard calls for a fair catch at the Giants' 35-yard line.

End of possession

Taylor's pass to Hodgins gains eight yards. Taylor's pass is incomplete on second down. On third and two, Taylor scrambles for a yard, but holding on Mark Glowinski moves the Giants back 10 yards. Taylor's pass to Brieda gains five yards and that's the final play of the first half.

HALFTIME: Giants 14, Commanders 0

3RD QUARTER:

Washington begins the drive at its 25-yard line after the touchback. 

Robinson is stopped for no gain. Lawrence sacks Howell for a seven-yard loss. On third and 16, Howell's pass to Antonio Gibson gains 12 yards. Holding on Charles Leno is declined. 

Shepard muffs the punt and it's recovered by Dyami Brown to give Washington the ball at the Giants' 21-yard line. 

Rodriguez runs for four yards. Rodriguez gets another carry and gains five yards. On third and one, Rodriguez is stopped for no gain. On fourth and one, Howell's pass to Dotson gains seven yards to the Giants' four-yard line to set up first and goal. 

Howell's pass is incomplete. On second and goal, Robinson punches it in from four yards out for a touchdown. 

Joey Slye's extra point is good with 10:21 left in the third quarter.

Giants 14, Commanders 7

End of possession

New York begins the drive at its 25-yard line after Slye's touchback.

Barkley runs for six yards. Barkley gets another carry and gains three yards. On third and one, Barkley runs for two yards to move the chains. 

Brieda is stopped for a four-yard loss by Jonathan Allen. Taylor's pass intended for Hodgins is incomplete. On third and 14, Taylor's pass to Waller gains 13 yards and is just short of a first down. 

New York opts to punt, and it goes out of bounds at the Commanders' 21-yard line.

End of possession

Robinson runs for two yards. Howell's pass to Thomas gains 14 yards for a first down.

Howell is forced to throw it away and he's flagged for intentional grounding because he was still in the pocket. On second and 20, Howell's pass to McLaurin gains 15 yards. On third and five, Howell's pass intended for Thomas is incomplete. 

Way's punt goes through the end zone for a touchback with 5:29 left in the third quarter.

End of possession 

Taylor's pass intended for Waller is incomplete. Barkley runs for a yard. On third and nine, Taylor's pass to Waller gains seven yards and is short of a first down. 

Crowder runs the punt back three yards before being tackled at the Giants' 16-yard line.

End of possession

A false start on Sam Cosmi pushes Washington back five yards. Howell heaves it into the air and Thibodeaux, who would have walked into the end zone for a pick-six, drops the pass. Robinson runs for a yard, making it third and 14. Howell's pass to Gibson gains 12 yards and is short of a first down. 

Slayton calls for a fair catch at the Giants' 21-yard line. 

End of possession

Taylor scrambles for five yards. Barkley runs for five yards. On third and three, Taylor's pass intended for Wan'Dale is incomplete. 

Crowder runs the punt back to the Commanders' 27-yard line. Holding on Washington will move them back half the distance to the goal.

End of possession

Washington begins the drive at its 10-yard line. Howell completes a deep pass to McLaurin for 27 yards and he eats a huge hit from McKinney. McKinney is flagged for unnecessary roughness and that adds 15 yards to the play.

The Commanders have the ball at the Giants' 48-yard line. Gibson runs for six yards on first down. Howell's pass is incomplete. Before third and four, Leno moves early for a false start. Charles is now down on the field. On third and nine, Howell finds McLaurin for a 31-yard gain to the Giants' 16-yard line. 

That's the final play of the third quarter. 

End of the quarter

4TH QUARTER:

Gibson is stopped for a one-yard gain. Howell's pass intended for Samuel is incomplete. On third and nine, Howell's pass to McLaurin gains six yards and is short of a first down. 

Washington goes for the field goal and it's blocked by Leonard Williams. 

End of possession

The Giants begin the drive at their 20-yard line. Barkley runs for two yards. Taylor is sacked by Khaleke Hudson for a three-yard loss. On third and 11, Taylor is sacked again by Young and Sweat, but illegal contact on Jamin Davis gives the Giants a first down. 

Barkley runs for six yards. Taylor scrambles and is stopped for no gain. On third and four, Taylor's pass to Barkley gains seven yards for a first down. 

Barkley runs for a yard. Taylor goes deep for Hyatt on second down and it's complete for 43 yards to the Commanders' 21-yard line.

 Washington is challenging if Hyatt got both feet in bounds. After review, the call is confirmed as a catch.

Barkley runs for six yards. He gets another carry and runs for five to make it first and goal at the Commanders' 10-yard line. 

Barkley gets the handoff and he's stripped and it's recovered by Daron Payne for a turnover.

End of possession

Howell's pass intended for McLaurin is incomplete. Howell throws another incompletion, but defensive holding on Banks gives Washington a first down. 

Howell's pass to Dotson gains nine yards. Howell completes a pass to Samuel for two yards and another first down. 

Howell's pass intended for Thomas is broken up. Howell looks for Thomas again and this time they connect for 15 yards. 

Howell's pass to Samuel gains three yards. Howell finds Pringle for 17 yards to the Giants' 43-yard line. 

Rodriguez runs for eight yards. Rodriguez runs for 10 yards to move the chains again. 

A false start on Wylie makes it first and 15 at the Giants' 32-yard line. Howell keeps it and runs for four yards. Howell completes the pass to Dotson for eight yards and he's tackled out of bounds. On third and three Howell's pass to Samuel gains two yards. It'll be fourth and one after the two-minute warning. 

On fourth and one, Howell's pass is complete to McLaurin for six yards to the Giants' 12-yard line. 

Howell's pass is thrown away on first down. Howell finds McLaurin again for five yards. The Giants call their first timeout with 1:02 left in the game. On third and five, Howell looks for McLaurin again and it's incomplete. 

On fourth and five, Howell's pass intended for Dotson is incomplete and that'll be a turnover on downs. 

End of possession

Taylor takes a knee and Washington calls its second timeout with 53 seconds left in the game. Taylor takes another knee and the Commanders call their final timeout with 51 seconds left in the game. Taylor takes another knee and now it's fourth down. That's the final play of the game because Payne was hurt and the play clock resets with 30 seconds left in the game.

FINAL: Giants 14, Commanders 7

Published
Nathaniel Marrero
NATHANIEL MARRERO

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