Instant analysis: Giants fall short to Commanders, losing on last-second field goal, 21-18

LANDOVER, Md. - The New York Giants are embracing preparation over panic. It's one game, they say - one game with a frustratingly bad result after the Minnesota Vikings dealt them a 28-6 loss in the season opener for both teams.

Daniel Jones struggled. The pass rush, save for Dexter Lawrence, was neutralized. Very little went right.

But as the Giants take the field here at Northwest Stadium on Sunday afternoon, coach Brian Daboll is not promising wholesale changes to the lineup, the game plan or the process by which Big Blue gets ready for what amounts to a massive game against an NFC East opponent that essentially fights from the same weight class.

"The biggest thing is to try to be as consistent as you can, whether you have a good win or whether you have a good loss," Daboll said. "You're always evaluating, whether it's a play or whether it's personnel because you try to be as competitive as you can be. But you try to stay as steady as you can and make the right decision for the team."

The Giants battled Washington all day long Sunday afternoon, but came up short in the end, falling on Commanders kicker Austin Seibert's last-second field goal, his seventh of the game, for a 21-18 loss.

Here were the highlights and our analysis throughout the game:

Giants 18, Commanders 18, 7:12 left in 4th quarter

The defense holds again - with a lot of help from Washington's offensive line, which committed two false start penalties in the red zone - and the Commanders settled for Austin Seibert's sixth field goal of the game.

A phantom holding penalty called on rookie Dru Phillips in coverage on Zach Ertz wiped out Brian Burns' first sack with the Giants. Burns and Dexter Lawrence did Burns' Spider-Man sack celebration as well, but the flag was deflating.

Giants 18, Commanders 15, 11:32 left in 4th quarter

And the Giants are back in front. Daniel Jones' second touchdown pass of the game to Wan'Dale Robinson caps a drive that included a pair of key plays from Malik Nabers. Nabers made a clutch catch on fourth down, then drew a defensive pass interference penalty that set the Giants up.

Commanders 15, Giants 12, 2:47 left in 3rd quarter

Brian Burns draws the holding penalty - an obvious one so obvious that two flags came out from two different officials - and Washington settled for its 5th FG to take the lead. The Commanders have scored on all five of their drives.

Giants 12, Commanders 12, 8:01 left in 3rd quarter

The Giants' defense held with its back to the end zone yet again, but Washington's fourth field goal from Austin Seibert knotted the score. Washington is just kicking field goals and the Giants don't have that option with Graham Gano having injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff.

Halftime: Giants 12, Commanders 9

Malik Nabers scored his first touchdown in the NFL late in the first half as the Giants cashed in to take the lead before halftime. Nabers had 73 yards receiving at the break, and the last Giants rookie to do that was Darius Slayton at Philadelphia in 2019.

Giants 6, Commanders 6. 10:37 left in 2nd quarter

Jason Pinnock sack forces the FG attempt, good rush by Thibodeaux to flush Daniels off his spot. Washington's Seibert nails a 45-yard field goal to even the score.

Giants 6, Commanders 3, 1:06 left in 1st quarter

Devin Singletary has the Giants' first touchdown of the season, running in a 7-yarder by jumping around blocks from right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and tight end Chris Manhertz. Graham Gano's hamstring injury showed up right away as punter Jamie Gillan - with reserve quarterback Drew Lock holding - hooked the PAT try to the right.

Malik Nabers makes big catch-and-run, checked for concussion after big hit

Big play, bigger hit.

Malik Nabers was blasted from the blindside by Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of a 28-yard catch and run from Daniel Jones. The Giants were set up inside the 15, but the official spotter buzzed down to the field and Nabers had to come off for a concussion check. He missed the remainder of the drive, but was cleared.

Commanders 3, Giants 0, 5:24 left in the 1st quarter

16 plays, 64 yards, 9:36.

Washington 3, Giants 0.

A lot to clean up for NYG, but they only give up a 27-yard field goal to Washington's Austin Seibert.

Dru Phillips with two tackles for a loss on the drive, including a sack.

But the game got off to a terrible start with kicker Graham Gano injuring his hamstring as Austin Ekeler brought back the opening kick for a touchdown. The score was wiped out by a pair of penalties, but Gano is doubtful to return.

Coin toss: Giants win, elect to defer

The Giants win the coin toss and defer their choice to the second half. The Commanders and Jayden Daniels will receive.

The need to avoid an 0-2 start

The Giants are looking to avoid the first 0-2 start in the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll era.

The last time they started 0-2 was in 2021, when Dave Gettleman and Joe Judge were the GM and HC.

Since 2013, they've started 0-2 eight times, most in the NFL.

UPDATE: Graham Gano returns, looks better

Gano went into the locker room after looking bothered by his groin injury early in his warmups. Since coming back on the field, he's nailed kicks from 56 and 60 yards and appears more comfortable

Graham Gano injury status bears watching

Graham Gano was put on the injury report with a groin issue Saturday, but the Giants did not assign a game status designation for him. The expectation was that Gano would kick Sunday, and practice squad kicker Jude McAtamney, a rookie from Rutgers, was not brought up to the active roster.

Gano appeared to stop his warmups early and went inside after looking a bit uncomfortable after a few kicks. But he has now returned to the field and resumed.

Full NY Giants vs. Washington Commanders inactives

Giants inactives

• QB Tommy DeVito (emergency quarterback)
• S Anthony Johnson Jr.
• CB Nick McCloud
• ILB Darius Muasau
• OLB Boogie Basham
• G Jake Kubas

Commanders inactives

• CB Emmanuel Forbes
• QB Sam Hartman (emergency quarterback)
• S Darrick Forrest
• LB Dominique Hampton
• LB Jamin Davis
• WR Jamison Crowder
• G Chris Paul

Will Giants make a quarterback change?

Tommy DeVito is on the field warming up early. He'll be inactive technically, but dressed in uniform as the emergency QB3 again today. The last time the Giants were here, DeVito threw three TDs in a 31-19 victory last November.

Drew Lock will back up Daniel Jones again, but if Jones struggles in the first half, could Brian Daboll make a switch the way he did on Christmas Day in Philadelphia last season going from DeVito to Tyrod Taylor for the second half?

It's certainly possible, but if the Giants move off Jones, it's hard seeing them going back. I believe they'll stick with Jones at least through the first month, and if the Giants are winless following next Sunday's game at Cleveland and Dallas at home on a short week, Lock would conceivably have 10 days to get ready for a potential first start in Seattle against the team he was with last year.

'No panic, just urgency'

The Giants believe in their process. "No panic, just urgency" is how safety Jason Pinnock put it the day after last Sunday's 28-6 loss in Week 1.

Somewhere along the way, making everybody involved a little bit uncomfortable might be necessary to see the response. A team can be lost if too many changes are made in such a short period of time.

A season can be lost if not enough changes are made to fix what's wrong.

What side of this will Brian Daboll's Giants come out on? We'll start finding out today.

NY Giants vs. Commanders injury updates

The Giants added kicker Graham Gano to the injury report with a groin issue. He has no game designation, however, so he is expected to handle kicking duties.

With the way the NFL has promised to crack down on the injury report and teams listing injuries or anything that keeps players from taking their normal reps in practice, it's become challenging to just judge player availability based on having ailments reported. Case in point: Gano's groin issue. It's enough for the Giants to feel the need to report, so it's something to monitor.

Then you put last year's game vs. the Jets as the backdrop when an injured Gano tried to kick despite a knee injury - missing a potential game-winner - and it's understandable fans will react the way some have. The Giants did not elevate practice squad kicker Jude McAtamney for the game, instead opting to elevate ILB Ty Summers and OLB Tomon Fox, likely both set to play core roles on special teams.

Might be wise to lessen the stress on Gano by having someone else handle kickoffs. McAtamney made the most sense, but maybe punter Jamie Gillan can do it. This way, you let Gano kick and not worry about tweaking anything.

The Giants also have last week as reference: they didn't take insurance out on Gunner Olszewski and he reaggravated his injury in warmups. Olszewski was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

NFL Network reported Sunday morning that Washington rookie DT Johnny Newton (foot) is set to make his debut. Newton visited the Giants in the pre-draft process.

One non-player injury update: Giants OLB coach Charlie Bullen fractured his leg in a sideline collision in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Vikings. Bullen had surgery Thursday morning, and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will have more of a hand with that position as long as he is on the mend. Bowen has worked with linebackers as a position coach.

Bullen did not travel with the team to Maryland as he continues to recover. Assistant Ben Burress will come down from the box and work the sideline with the position group.

NY Giants vs Commanders time today

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 15
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Location: Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland

What channel is NY Giants vs Commanders game on today?

• TV channel: FOX

Streaming options for the game include FUBO , which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

NY Giants vs Commanders history

• Series record: Giants lead, 108-71-5
• Giants' last win: Nov. 19, 2023 (31-19)
• Commanders' last win : Jan. 9, 2022 (22-7)

NY Giants vs Commanders prediction

The pick: Commanders 17, Giants 10

Here's why: Daniel Jones and the Giants have had Washington’s number (5-1-1 in his career), but that was under the Ron Rivera/Jack Del Rio regime. Meanwhile, Dan Quinn has gotten the best of the Giants while in Dallas as the DC. The Giants were the only team to not score double digits in Week 1, so until they do, it’s difficult predicting them to win a game.

STAFF PREDICTIONS: See all of our expert picks for Giants vs. Commanders

NY Giants vs Commanders betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

• Spread: Commanders by 1.5
• Over/under : 44

NY Giants vs Commanders weather update

Partly cloudy, high of 82, 8 percent chance of rain.

NY Giants 2024 schedule

• Sept. 8 vs. Vikings, L 28-6
• Sept. 15 at Commanders, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 22 at Browns, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 26 vs. Cowboys, 8:15 p.m.
• Oct. 6 at Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.
• Oct. 13 vs. Bengals, 8:20 p.m.
• Oct. 20 vs. Eagles, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 28 at Steelers, 8:15 p.m.
• Nov. 3 vs. Commanders, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 10 vs. Panthers (in Germany), 9:30 a.m.
• Nov. 24 vs. Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 28 at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m.
• Dec. 8 vs. Saints, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 15 vs. Ravens, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 22 at Falcons, 1 p.m.
• Week 17 TBD vs. Colts
• Week 18 TBD at Eagles
• WEEK 18 · TBD

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Instant analysis: Giants fall short to Commanders, losing on last-second field goal, 21-18