LANDOVER, Md. — Jayden Daniels passed for 233 yards, rushed for 68 more and threw for one touchdown as the Washington Commanders opened their season with a 21-6 win over the visiting New York Giants.
Looking to build on their surprise run to the NFC title game last season, the Commanders (1-0) never trailed and held their division rival to two field goals. Washington outgained New York 432-231.
Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel caught seven passes for 77 yards and ran for a 19-yard touchdown in his Washington debut. Daniels completed 19 of 30 passes, and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt had 82 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries as Washington ran for 220 yards.
In his first game for New York, Russell Wilson was 17-of-37 passing for 168 yards and led the Giants with 44 rushing yards. Malik Nabers had five catches for 71 yards.
Giants linebacker Micah McFadden left the game in the first quarter with an apparent leg injury.
Trailing by 15 late in the game, New York drove inside the Washington 5-yard line but turned the ball over on downs.
On their second possession, Washington went 89 yards in eight plays. Daniels went 4-for-4 for 67 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz to give Washington an early 7-0 lead.
The Giants responded with a 16-play, 76-yard drive before settling for Graham Gano’s 21-yard field goal with 13:57 left in the half.
Midway through the quarter Washington started at its own 42. On third-and-6 at the 28, Daniels ran for 11 yards, and two plays later Croskey-Merritt slipped around the right end for a 6-yard touchdown to make it 14-3 with 6:14 left.
On third-and-11 from midfield with 1:15 remaining, Daniels hit Samuel for a 21-yard gain. But on third down from the 4, Daniels was called for intentional grounding with three seconds left. The 10-second runoff ended the half.
After a holding penalty halted a Giants drive late in the third quarter, Gano hit a 55-yard field goal to make it 14-6.
The Commanders created a cushion with a nine-play, 80-yard fourth-quarter drive. Daniels hit Samuel for 19 yards to the Giants’ 29 and, after a penalty, found running back Austin Ekeler for 15-yard catch and run. Samuel then took an end-around and scored from 19 yards out and the lead was 21-6 with 7:09 remaining.
–Harvey Valentine, Field Level Media
