Redskins vs. Giants: New York Grades, Notes and Quotes
The saying goes, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish." Thursday night's game is an example of how important the start is.
Washington learned that lesson the hard way, as the game seemed all but over after the second drive of the evening. On the first, a penalty nixed a beautiful third-down conversion and led to a punt being blocked by Rashad Jennings, which resulted in a safety. The second drive, which ended with a Kirk Cousins interception, gave the New York Giants great field position and gifted them an Andre Williams touchdown.
The Giants were up 9-0, and the deflated Redskins had no chance.
The good news, however, is that the Giants held onto a fourth-quarter double-digit lead for the first time this season and beat the Redskins 32-21 at MetLife Stadium.
I'll break this game down by position on the next slide and wrap up with game notes and quotes.
Position Grades for New York Giants
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| Position | Grade |
| QB | A |
| RB | C- |
| WR | A+ |
| TE | C+ |
| OL | A- |
| DL | B |
| LB | A+ |
| DB | A+ |
| Special Teams | C |
| Coaching | B |
Quarterback
Eli Manning's rating was buoyed by his garbage-time touchdown to wideout Rueben Randle, but the veteran had a solid game nonetheless.
While Manning seemed to be cautious in the first half, he opened the offense up after halftime and wound up going 23-of-31 with 279 yards and two touchdowns.
Manning's dinks and dunks in the first half became longer connections with Odell Beckham Jr. and Randle, and his two second-half touchdown passes helped seal the victory.
Running Backs
Though Andre Williams found paydirt in this one, it was another frustrating night for the Giants' running backs.
They combined for just 84 yards on 31 carries (2.7 yards per carry).
Since they struggled to move the chains down the stretch, the game was prolonged, and the Redskins were able to get a few extra possessions. This group has to get going next week, as it'll be hard to knock off top competition without a reliable running game.
Wide Receivers
Beckham and Randle were sensational, combining for 14 catches, 195 yards and two touchdowns. They each made stellar grabs on scoring plays as well, with Beckham snagging a pass before it reached the defender and Randle making a juggling circus catch.
It was only a matter of time before Randle woke up from his season-long slumber and played to his potential, becoming a viable target opposite Beckham.
If Randle can keep it up, Victor Cruz's addition in the slot should make the Giants' passing game feared yet again.
Tight Ends
Neither Larry Donnell nor Daniel Fells was overly impressive, but they each hauled in three catches on the night.
Fells actually made a nice spinning catch over the middle on a ball thrown behind him, showing his athleticism for a 260-pound man.
Offensive Line
Though it was a major concern coming into the game thanks to the absence of rookie Ereck Flowers, this group played very well.
Manning was only knocked down twice on the night and wasn't sacked, something that was important after his fumble led to the Atlanta Falcons getting back into the game on Sunday. It was an easy night for Manning, who had time to look through his reads and find the open man.
The only reason the offensive line got an A-minus is because it struggled to create open lanes for the running backs, though the unit was excellent in pass protection.
Defensive Line
The line didn't register a sack, but it applied more pressure than it had over the first two weeks of the season.
It helped the defensive line to know that the Redskins were playing from behind and Kirk Cousins would be dropping back to pass more often than not in the fourth quarter. Still, this group showed a bit more fire against the Redskins, though the box score may not show it.
Linebackers
Two words: Uani' Unga.
The team leader in tackles led the Giants with eight against the Redskins and added his second interception of the year as well. Unga has impressed so far, and this group stood tall against what was the league's No. 1-ranked rushing attack coming into the game.
Fellow linebacker Jonathan Casillas recorded the only sack of the game to help Unga in the absence of Jon Beason.
Defensive Backs
With Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie out, the pressure was on Prince Amukamara, who stepped up big-time.
The 26-year-old showed why he was selected in the first round in 2011, shutting down Pierre Garcon on the evening and picking off Cousins in the first quarter, a play that changed the complexion of the game.
Even with all of the garbage-time drives, Garcon still only hauled in five of his 12 targets on the evening. Amukamara was everywhere against Washington, and if he plays at this level, the Giants secondary may not be so awful.
Special Teams
While kicker Josh Brown was a perfect 3-of-3 on the night, the special teams grade is weighted heavily on the kick return for a touchdown that they surrendered. It's a shame, because Brown's effort and Rashad Jennings' first-quarter punt block would have certainly given the Giants an A-plus.
Now, with only two points from the safety against the seven they gave up to the Redskins' special teams, they're sitting at a C.
Washington's Rashad Ross returned a fourth-quarter kickoff to the house, scampering 101 yards to cut the deficit to 32-21 and prolong the game. It doesn't seem to be a trend for the Giants and only an aberration, but it's still something to look for in Week 4.
Coaching
The offensive game plan in the first half was a little too conservative, with short passes and runs allowing the Giants to move up the field three yards at a time. With an early 9-0 lead, they should have put their foot on the gas in front of the home crowd. Instead, they let the weak Redskins hang in there with a field-goal war.
Important Note No. 1: Break Records Like Beckham
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Odell Beckham Jr. broke two records in Thursday night's victory over the Redskins, as he now has the most catches (110) and receiving yards (1,574) through the first 15 games among wideouts in history, according to the NFL's Randall Liu.
It's an incredible stretch, as Beckham initially looked like an injured draft bust and has become an immediate superstar.
Since bursting on the scene last season, he has proved he's more than just a player known for his one-handed catch. He is among the NFL's elite receivers and is off to a record-setting start to what should be a bright career.
Important Note No. 2: Manning Wins 100th Game
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Say what you want about how he stacks up against his legendary brother Peyton, but Eli Manning is a winner.
In fact, he won his 100th career game, including playoffs, on Thursday night against the Redskins, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Manning has had two incredible runs to the Super Bowl in which his underdog Giants have knocked off the mighty New England Patriots, but he's been consistent in the regular season as well. Though the Giants haven't made the postseason in three straight years, Manning isn't solely to blame for that, as they had subpar defenses and running games.
He takes a lot of heat while playing in New York, but the city hasn't had many quiet stars like him throughout its history. He's a reliable iron man whom Big Blue can count on every week.
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Important Note No. 3: Giants Win Record 97th Game vs. Redskins
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With Thursday night's victory over the Redskins, the Giants collected their 97th win against Washington. That's the most in NFL history against a single opponent, per Elias Sports via ESPN Stats & Info.
Though the Redskins have been awful of late, they are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, which makes this an impressive feat. The rivalry dates way back to when the Giants actually played their home games in New York and the Redskins were a Boston franchise, so the Giants have had plenty of years to rack up the 97 wins.
Quote No. 1: Tom Coughlin
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"We won. So smile," Coughlin said, per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
For a head coach who seems to always be on the hot seat, each victory comes with a sigh of relief. Thursday night's easy stroll in the park was followed by a smile.
Coughlin, once known for his no-business attitude, has softened with his old age in recent years and has become a player favorite. He let out his nice side a bit after the game, likely feeling relieved that the Giants actually got in the win column.
Each victory buys Coughlin some time, as he's likely gone at season's end if the Giants miss the postseason again. This win wasn't pretty, but he and the team will take it.
Quote No. 2: Prince Amukamara
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Cornerback Prince Amukamara was the Giants' brightest star on defense against the Redskins. Afterward, he expressed his confidence in his team.
"The Giants are no stranger to adversity...We came out fighting," Amukamara told NFL Network.
The fifth-year corner was a rookie when the Giants last won a Super Bowl in 2011, which means he has every right to believe in his boys. That Giants team started the season 1-1 before catching fire in the second half and obliterating opposing quarterbacks behind an unbelievable pass rush.
Perhaps this year can yield the same result.
Though the pass rush still looks weak and the Giants have some question marks, it's hard to count miracle worker Eli Manning out in a brutal NFC East. The Giants are right back in it at 1-2, and the league should take notice if the G-Men gain some momentum.
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