Commanders' Daniels finds redemption with game-winning drive - ESPN

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels shook off two interceptions and multiple weeks of failed late-game drives. Then he delivered when Washington needed him most — in a game it had to win.

Daniels' 32-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds remaining gave the Commanders a 24-21 win over the New York Giants on Thursday night.

«Baby Kobe,» said Washington receiver Stefon Diggs, who caught Daniels' pass.

Washington (3-5-1) is two games behind the Giants (5-3-1) in the NFC East. Washington had struggled in late-game situations, with three of its past four games coming down to the final minute. The Commanders were 0-2-1 in those contests.

It was nearly a repeat scenario against New York, as Daniels tossed two interceptions prior to the game-winning drive — one from the Giants' 24-yard line.

But after the defense forced a punt, Daniels and Washington needed only three plays to go 71 yards.

«When I had the opportunity to go out there and win the game, take a deep breath, go out there and just capitalize on the moment,» he said. «I didn't want to let my team down.»

The final drive represented some vindication for Daniels, who led his first game-winning drive since a 2024 wild-card game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This season, Daniels and the Commanders failed to convert a 2-point conversion in the opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, and Daniels failed to throw the ball away in overtime, preventing a chance for a game-winning field goal. In their previous two losses, the Commanders' final drive ended in enemy territory.

Last week, the Commanders failed to throw a pass into the end zone despite reaching the 32-yard line with eight seconds remaining in a 20-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

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