Giants Get First Win, Top Redskins

And the Giants may have saved their season in the process.

Who would have thought that the Giants would have a game-changing play come on special teams?

The Giants were able to do just enough to pick up the victory, as they got off to a strong start and were able to control the game from the start. Robert Griffin III may have been injured a lot over the past few seasons, but he does have the type of leadership qualities and abilities that the Redskins need to turn their franchise back around into a playoff contender.

After a 33-yard completion to running back Chris Thompson that would have given Washington a first down was called back because of a penalty, the Redskins were forced to punt on their opening drive. “Kirk Cousins targeted Carrer, but Devon Kennard proved why Carl Banks hailed him as the future of the Giants” linebacking corps and tipped the ball way up into the air. Even Giants QB Eli Manning seemed to be the model of quiet efficiency as he went 23-31 for 279 yards.

Offensive tackle Trent Williams didn’t hesitate when asked what the biggest thing Washington needed to fix was. “Unfortunately, we gave in to pressure again”, coach Jay Gruden said. But it was a total team effort from top to bottom. “We’re consistent in that regard”.

New York didn’t let Washington steal a victory late, finishing off a 32-21 decision Thursday night on Odell Beckham Jr.’s 30-yard touchdown catch and Rueben Randle’s 41-yarder in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“I made a couple of bad plays tonight”, Cousins said. “He jumped the route and it was a bang-bang play….”

Cousins threw two more picks last night despite throwing for 316 yards. The Giants’ defense surrendered 15 points in the fourth quarter? If another quarterback plays in place of Kirk Cousins, I think it will be Colt McCoy. “We’re hoping that a more mature Kirk Cousins will bounce back. But he’s gotta protect the ball a little bit better”. Alfred should (still) be the lead dog (going forward). “And it just happened to work out”. “We can, but it’s going to take us coming together and cutting down on mistakes”.

“When he hits the open space, he’s something to deal with”, Gruden said. The Giants, however, took advantage of Washington’s apparent confusion on the field and scored as early and as often as they could. The two-point conversion pass from Cousins to wide receiver Jamison Crowder pulled Washington within 25-14 with 3:30 to play. Left guard Shawn Lauvao hurt an ankle, while RT Morgan Moses damaged an elbow and OL Josh LeRibeus had a calf injury.

Next – On October. 4, Washington will try to defeat a Philadelphia Eagles team looking for its first win of the season in the divisional matchup. I don’t know how many there are who can overcome a lead like that on the road in a big division game. In two games, the Giants have converted only two of its eight red-zone chances. He had Eli Manning trying to pass, resulting in an incompletion and stopping the clock with 1:38 left.

Cousins has a pair of two-interception games – and both were losses. “A very good game plan by Coach [Ben] McAdoo, and I give him credit”.

Is playing in the National Football League simply too much for Cousins? The next week, Jones thundered for 123 yards in 19 carries. However, New York was unable to convert on that takeaway. For the third week in a row, the opponent went after the Giants’ shaky pass defense, missing Rodgers-Cromartie, who was inactive due to a concussion sustained last week. In 2012, Victor Cruz tormented them.

“He’s capable of doing that every single time”, Beckham said.

On the next drive, Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Manning to seemingly put the nail in the coffin. Manning wasn’t sacked and hardly ever had a pass rusher in his face. Since Washington’s Bashaud Breeland also drew a penalty on the play for “player out of bounds”, the fourth down was replayed. So far this season, Williams has gained 57 rushing yards. ILB Keenan Robinson (game-high 13 tackles) was superb. Like so many of Beckham’s catches, this one lit a spark under the Giants.

Bringing in kicker Dustin Hopkins to replace Forbath is also turning out to be an upgrade for Washington, especially when it comes to field position on kickoffs.