Commanders Beat Giants 24-21 as Daniels Hits Diggs for Late Thursday Night Winner

Jayden Daniels threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs with 57 seconds left, and the Washington Commanders beat the New York Giants 24-21 on Thursday Night Football at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Week 10 win on Thursday, November 12, 2026, kept Washington's season alive.

Key Points

• Jayden Daniels found Stefon Diggs for a 32-yard go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds left, after two fourth-quarter interceptions.
• J.J. McCarthy threw an interception on the Giants' final drive to end the game.
• New York had led 21-17 on McCarthy's 66-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, the longest score of Likely's career.
• Cam Skattebo scored twice for the Giants, while rookie Antonio Williams and Ben Sinnott caught touchdowns for Washington.
• The game was a rematch of the teams' 27-27 Week 5 tie.

What Happened

Washington opened the scoring on Drew Stevens' 46-yard field goal. The Giants answered in the second quarter when Cam Skattebo powered in from one yard out, and New York led 7-3 into the final minutes of the first half. Washington struck just before the break, with Daniels finding Ben Sinnott for a one-yard touchdown and a 10-7 halftime lead.

After the break, rookie Antonio Williams, targeted for the first time all night, caught a Daniels pass and ran it in for a 31-yard touchdown, his second career score. Washington led 17-7, before Skattebo answered with a 13-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to cut the gap to 17-14.

The fourth quarter belonged to the quarterbacks, and to their mistakes. Daniels, who had not thrown an interception all season, was picked off for the first time on a deep shot to Chig Okonkwo, with Giants safety Jevon Holland stepping in front of the ball with about five minutes left. Washington's defence bailed him out, stuffing a third-and-1 after a Jameis Winston sneak was overturned on a Dan Quinn challenge.

Daniels threw a second interception on fourth-and-1, and Washington relied on its defence once more, using its timeouts and the two-minute warning to force a punt. By then the Giants had struck: McCarthy hit Likely on a 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 8:13 remaining, and New York led 21-17.

Daniels got one more chance and did not miss. Diggs got open quickly, and Daniels found him for a 32-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left. Washington led 24-21, and McCarthy's last pass was intercepted to end it.

Background: A Rematch of the Week 5 Tie

The two teams already knew each other well. They had played to a 27-27 overtime tie in Week 5, a result that left both sides frustrated and set up Thursday as a tiebreaker of sorts. The Giants entered the night at 5-2-1, alone atop a weak NFC East, while the Commanders arrived at 2-5-1, their season hanging by a thread.

Washington had treated the week as a must-win. Daniels and linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson both used the phrase during the week, and head coach Dan Quinn stressed it too. A loss would have left Washington four games back with eight to play, a gap that would have been almost impossible to close.

Washington was also short-handed. Star receiver Terry McLaurin was on injured reserve, and tight end Chig Okonkwo left the game early with a back injury before returning in the fourth quarter. That forced Daniels to lean on younger targets, and Sinnott and Williams answered: Sinnott entered the night with just one catch all season, and Williams had not been targeted at all before his touchdown.

Commanders Beat Giants 24-21: How the Final Minutes Unfolded

The ending was chaotic even by Thursday night standards. Daniels' first interception came with about five minutes left, and his second came on fourth-and-1 from shotgun, a call that drew immediate scrutiny. Between the two picks, the Giants scored the go-ahead touchdown, and Washington looked beaten.

What saved the Commanders was their defence, which held on third-and-1 and gave Daniels the ball back. The third chance was the charm: Diggs separated quickly, Daniels threw with confidence, and the 32-yard score put Washington ahead for good.

Reactions

Washington had called this game a must-win all week. Daniels and Chaisson said it plainly, and Quinn made the stakes clear without using the phrase himself. The win validated that urgency, even if the path to it was far messier than anyone in burgundy and gold would have drawn up.

For the Giants, the loss stung because they had the game in their hands. They led with eight minutes left and forced two Daniels interceptions in the fourth quarter, yet could not close it out. The defence that had twice taken the ball away could not get one final stop.

Why It Matters

The result reshapes the NFC East. The Giants fall to 5-3-1 and no longer sit comfortably clear of the pack, while the Commanders improve to 3-5-1 and stay alive in a division where nobody has run away with it. With the Week 5 tie already on the books, the season series is now settled in Washington's favour on points, and the tiebreaker picture is that much tighter.

It also matters for how Washington's season is judged. The Commanders had held a fourth-quarter lead or tie in three straight Thursday night games and kept failing to finish. This time they finished, after their quarterback had thrown the game away twice.

What Happens Next

Both teams now have a short week before Week 11. Washington's ground game remains a concern: the Commanders averaged just 2.4 yards per carry before halftime, with their most physical back, Bill Croskey-Merritt, on injured reserve. He is expected to return next week, though the offensive line remains the bigger question.

For the Giants, the task is to regroup quickly. They led late, forced turnovers, and still lost at home to a team they had tied a month earlier. The division lead is still theirs, but the margin for error is gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Commanders vs Giants?

Washington beat New York 24-21 at MetLife Stadium, with the winning touchdown coming with 57 seconds left.

Who scored the winning touchdown?

Jayden Daniels threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs with 57 seconds left, giving Washington a 24-21 lead.

How did the Giants take the lead in the fourth quarter?

J.J. McCarthy threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely with 8:13 left, the longest touchdown of Likely's career, putting New York ahead 21-17.

What are the records after the game?

Washington improved to 3-5-1, while the Giants fell to 5-3-1. New York still leads the NFC East, but the race is now much tighter.

Did the Commanders and Giants tie earlier this season?

Yes. The teams played to a 27-27 overtime tie in Week 5, which made Thursday's game a rematch.

Related coverage: Commanders beat Eagles 27-10 on Sunday Night Football and Giants beat Eagles 19-11 as Philadelphia's seventh straight loss deepens crisis.