After an eight-game losing streak that stretched more than two months, the Washington Commanders finally found relief Sunday, leaving MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with a 29-21 victory over longtime division rival New York Giants.
“It feels amazing to win a football game, especially against your division opponent,” said wide receiver Terry McLaurin. “I think that adds a little icing on the cake for that.”
The Commanders now advance to a 4-10 overall record, while the Giants drop to a 2-12 record on the season. The 29-point performance marked Washington’s highest output since week three versus the Raiders.
“Unbelievable, there’s nothing like a winning locker room,” said quarterback Marcus Mariota. “All three phases found a way to make big plays today and just a credit to those guys. Like we talked about all week, it’s never easy at this point in time, with what’s going on in our season. But those guys continued to fight, continued to battle, and I truly appreciate who this group is and we’ll just keep finding ways to get better.”
Washington entered the matchup with nothing at stake in the playoff picture. Both the Commanders and Giants had already been eliminated from playoff contention as draft positioning looms as the only tangible incentive.
However, head coach Dan Quinn stressed the importance of competing and finishing strong regardless of the season’s outcome, a mindset he has instilled since his arrival in Washington.
The win wasn’t pretty or stress-free but at this point in a long injury-filled season, the Commanders gladly welcomed the victory.
In another game without star quarterback Jayden Daniels — in his second year with the team — Washington leaned on veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, who delivered steady leadership and key plays. Mariota finished the day completing 10 of 19 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. He guided an offense that didn’t trail at any point throughout the game and held a double-digit lead for the first time since Week Five against the Chargers.
“It’s hard to go two months without winning a football game and for our guys to be able to put that aside, fight all week knowing that it was gonna be a division opponent on the road, games like this are never easy,” said Mariota. “The weather was tough, windy, cold, snowy — like it’s so many reasons, so many things for guys to not to show up and play — and our guys found a way today.”
The offense rushed for 145 yards, led by rookie running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, who carried the ball 18 times for 96 yards and scored a 16-yard touchdown in the second quarter. McLaurin added 69 receiving yards, highlighted by a 51-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Washington’s special teams also had a momentum-shifting performance. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, helping Washington build a 22-7 lead by halftime. This marked Lane’s second return score of the season and he became the second player in team history to have at least two punt return touchdowns in a rookie season.
“It’s all God, man,” said Lane. “Just glory to him for putting me in this position and giving me the abilities. And my teammates, they just breathe life into me and they have all the confidence in the world. I have confidence in them and we’re going to make it happen.”
Clinching the Victory, Commanders Remain Positive Despite a Tough Season
Defensively, Washington bent but didn’t break. The Giants recorded 384 yards on offense, but the Commanders made crucial stops when it mattered most.
Cornerback Mike Sainristil intercepted quarterback Jaxson Dart’s pass late in the first half, setting up a field goal before halftime.
Linebacker Von Miller added to the excitement, recording a sack that moved him into 12th place on the NFL’s all-time leaderboard.
New York made several late pushes, aided by four Washington fumbles, two of them in the final six minutes, and pulled within just eight points twice. Dart threw two touchdown passes and the Giants offense rushed for 146 yards.
After halftime, the Giants struck quickly with a thrilling 82-yard touchdown drive, briefly swinging momentum in the game. Despite back-to-back turnovers that gave the Giants late life, Washington’s defense remained firm in the closing moments. The Giants turned away on downs as Washington forced incompletions on third and fourth down, running out the clock and securing the win.
There have been years where the Washington franchise has had long losing streaks but McLaurin emphasized how different this year’s group is from previously built teams that have experienced this.
“Honestly, like the locker room we have is really close,” McLaurin continued. “I’ve been on quite a few teams here where the season hasn’t gone how you want to. With this team, it’s so unique I think we come in each and every day and love coming to work together. You still see guys playing cards in the locker room, you still see them hanging out together after workouts, getting together in the cold tub and in the training room… there’s never been an emotional letdown, like, ‘our season is over, let’s just hang it up.’ I’ve never felt that from this locker room and it’s a testament to the leaders we have.”
With a victory in hand, the Commanders now shift their focus to one of their toughest tests yet: a week 16 NFC East divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The hope is that Sunday’s win represents more than just a successful moment, but rather a meaningful step forward that signals a strong finish to offset the challenges they have faced throughout the season.
“You know it’s been a long season, but you come out here and you get a win, you really appreciate that feeling in the locker room so we’re definitely going to enjoy it together,” said McLaurin. “We kind of have a short week this week playing on Saturday, so we’ll be back early next week, get better from the film, and get ready for the Eagles.”
The Commanders will be back at Northwest Stadium to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, Dec. 20. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.