Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards for a score, Terry McLaurin had a 51-yard touchdown catch and the visiting Washington Commanders held on to beat the New York Giants 29-21 on Sunday, ending their eight-game losing streak.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 96 yards and a touchdown for Washington (4-10). Marcus Mariota, starting in place of the injured Jayden Daniels, completed 10 of 19 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown.
Jaxson Dart was 20 of 36 for 246 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for New York (2-12), which has lost eight straight. Tyrone Tracy, Jr. caught a touchdown pass and ran for a score.
Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown left in the first half with a back injury and did not return.
Trailing 29-14 late, the Giants got a break when Mariota fumbled and Brian Burns returned it 23 yards to the Washington 21. Four plays later, Dart passed connected with Wan’Dale Robinson on a 16-yard touchdown and New York moved within 29-21 with 3:43 left.
On Washington’s next drive, Abdul Carter forced a Jeremy McNichols fumble and New York recovered at their own 49 with 2:42 left but turned it over on downs on the ensuing possession.
New York received the second-half kickoff and covered 82 yards, with Dart connecting with Tracy for an 18-yard touchdown to bring the Giants within 22-14.
Younghoe Koo’s 51-yard field goal attempt on the first play of the fourth quarter was short. Two plays later, Mariota hit McLaurin at the 20 and he broke a tackle to complete the 51-yard touchdown and Washington led 29-14 with 13:46 remaining.
Dart threw a pass to Theo Johnson for 42 yards down to the nine, and a penalty gave them first-and-goal at the one. However, Dart lost a yard and briefly left the game, Devin Singletary lost two yards on the next play, Jameis Winston’s pass was incomplete and Dart returned for fourth down, but his pass was incomplete.
Croskey-Merritt went up the middle for a 16-yard touchdown to make it 10-0 with 13:38 left in the first half.
Trailing 13-0, New York finally got on the scoreboard. On second-and-9 at the Washington 41, Dart broke free on his longest run of the season, covering 29 yards to the 12. Tracy later scored from 12 yards out, making the score 13-7.
Lane increased the lead late in the half when he fielded a punt at his own 37, started up the middle, cut left and outraced the pursuit for the touchdown. Moody’s extra point attempt hit the upright and Washington led 19-7 with 1:05 to go in the second.
With New York driving, Mike Sainristil intercepted Dart’s pass and returned it 55 yards, setting up Moody’s 42-yard field goal as the half ended.
