Washington Redskins 17 – New York Giants 16

Giants Fall to Redskins 17-16: The New York Giants were defeated by the Washington Redskins 17-16 on Monday night at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The loss dropped the Giants’ overall record to 7-5 (2-3 in the division). The Giants have a one game lead over the Washington Redskins (6-6 overall, 3-1 in the division) and Dallas Cowboys (6-6 overall, 3-2 in the division).

Statistically, the Giants slightly surpassed the Redskins in offensive plays (63 to 52), first downs (21 to 20), and total net yards (390 to 370). The Giants had a decent advantage in net passing yards (273 to 163) and time of possession (33:13 to 26:47), but the Redskins had a big advantage in net yards rushing (207 to 117). The Giants won the turnover battle (no turnovers while the Redskins fumbled the ball away once), but Giants were really hurt by nine penalties for 73 yards.

The Giants had four offensive possessions in the first half. The Giants drove 69 yards in 11 plays, resulting in a 39-yard field goal; 51 yards in 13 plays, resulting in a missed 43-yard field goal; 85 yards in 13 plays, resulting in a 4-yard touchdown pass from QB Eli Manning to TE Martellus Bennett; and 54 yards in six plays, resulting in a 40-yard field goal. Sixteen of the Giants’ 21 first downs came in the first half as did 273 of their 390 offensive yards.

Meanwhile, the Redskins’ four first-half drives resulted in a punt; 4-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a flukey touchdown; punt; and a 6-play, 51-yard drive that resulted in a 33-yard field goal. The Redskins scored on a play where QB Robert Griffin III fumbled the ball and the loose ball was recovered by WR Josh Morgan who ran it for the final 13 yards for the touchdown.

At the half, the Giants led 13-10.

In the second half, the Giants received the opening kickoff and punted after gaining two first downs. The Redskins then drove from their own 18-yard line to the Giants’ 15-yard line but LB Chase Blackburn forced HB Alfred Morris to fumble and LB Keith Rivers recovered the football at the Giants’ 9-yard line. The Giants then drove 75 yards in eight plays to set up a 35-yard field goal by PK Lawrence Tynes. The Giants now led 16-10 late in the third quarter.

The Redskins then responded with what ended up being the game-winning drive as Washington drove 86 yards in seven plays with Griffin hitting WR Pierre Garcon for an 8-yard score with 11:31 to play.

The Giants had two more drives in the game to regain the lead but could not move the football.  The Giants went three-and-out on their second-to-last possession. Then after forcing a Redskins’ punt, the Giants started their final drive at their own 20-yard line with 6:06 to play. Facing a 3rd-and-10 from their own 43-yard line, Manning hit Bennett for an apparent first down at the Redskins’ 46-yard line, but a holding penalty on LT Will Beatty wiped out the gain. The Giants could not recover from the 3rd-and-20 and punted.

With 3:51 left on the clock, the Giants’ defense could not stop the Redskins as Washington successfully ran out the clock by gaining three first downs and 43 yards on eight plays.

Offensively, Manning finished the game 20-of-33 for 280 yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions. The leading receivers were WR Victor Cruz (5 catches for 104 yards), Bennett (5 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown), and WR Hakeem Nicks (5 catches for 43 yards). HB Ahmad Bradshaw carried the all 24 times for 103 yards.

Defensively, the Giants did not sack Griffin once and only officially hit him twice. Rivers did recover a fumble that Blackburn forced. S Stevie Brown also forced a fumble on the play the Redskins’ scored on.

Highlights/lowlights of the game are available at NFL.com.

Injury Report: RT Sean Locklear suffered what looks to be a very serious knee injury in the 4th quarter of the game.

Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were HB Ryan Torain, WR Domenik Hixon (ankle), TE Travis Beckum (knee), TE Adrien Robinson, DE Adewale Ojomo, DT Marvin Austin, and LB Jacquian Williams (knee).