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New York Giants defensive finish Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) celebrates after scoring a landing in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer recreation in opposition to the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Landover, Md. (AP Picture/Susan Walsh)
AP
LANDOVER, Md.
Kayvon Thibodeaux was ready for the nationwide stage similar to he promised, Daniel Jones shined beneath the lights to finish his career-long skid in evening video games and the New York Giants beat the Washington Commanders 20-12 on Sunday to bolster their playoff probabilities and harm these of a rival.
After declaring, “Prime time likes me,” Thibodeaux was a power speeding the passer and busting into the backfield early and infrequently. He stripped Taylor Heinicke of the ball, recovered it to attain a landing and completed with three tackles for loss amongst his game-high 12 earlier than being helped off the sphere with 48 seconds left.
Jones, 0-9 in his first 9 prime-time video games for the Giants (8-5-1) who had misplaced 11 in a row in these conditions, threaded throws by means of tight home windows in beating the Commanders (7-6-1) along with his arm quite than operating throughout Washington as he did in a lot of their earlier conferences. He was 21 of 32 for 160 yards and engineered an 18-play landing drive within the second quarter that began on the 3 and lasted 8:35.
Saquon Barkley completed that drive with a 3-yard run into the top zone on a direct snap. Held to 39 yards on 12 carries within the first 3 1/2 quarters, Barkley greater than doubled his whole on the drive that ended with a area objective from Graham Gano and completed with 87 yards.
New York’s protection stopped Washington on a goal-to-go state of affairs within the remaining minutes, with Darnay Holmes making the ultimate go breakup on a play that arguably may have been known as go interference. That sealed the victory and ended a four-game winless streak.
The Giants strengthened their maintain on the second of three NFC wild-card spots behind the division rival Dallas Cowboys and now have the tiebreaker over Washington. That is particularly vital as a result of these groups performed to a 20-all tie two weeks in the past.
The loss, simply the Commanders’ second in 9 video games, places them in a more durable spot however retains them in a playoff place, half a recreation up on Seattle and Detroit.
Heinicke fumbled once more on the New York 9-yard line with six minutes left within the fourth quarter on a play appropriately challenged by Giants coach Brian Daboll. He was 17 of 29 for 249 yards passing with a landing throw to Jahan Dotson.
Terry McLaurin made six catches for 70 yards, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for a 3rd consecutive season and changing into Washington’s first participant to try this since Henry Ellard from 1994-96. McLaurin took a pricey unlawful formation penalty on Washington’s remaining drive that pushed the ball again from the 1 to the 6-yard line.
LUCRATIVE CATCH
One in all Jones’ greatest throws was additionally a really priceless catch for receiver Richie James. Their 10-yard completion on third down in the course of the 18-play drive was James’ fortieth catch of the season and cashed the $100,000 incentive in his contract for reaching that mark.
INJURIES
Giants: RT Evan Neal remained within the recreation after having his left foot/ankle checked out on the bench early. … DT Leonard Williams returned after lacking final week’s recreation with a neck harm.
Commanders: CB Benjamin St-Juste missed a 3rd consecutive recreation with an ankle harm.
UP NEXT
Giants: Go to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.
Commanders: Go to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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