The Giants suffer another lopsided defeat against the Washington Commanders, and their post-bye-week performance did little to reassure fans. The final tally, a 29–21 home loss, hides a more troubling day on the field: New York built a 29–14 lead only to watch Washington repeatedly gift them chances to snatch the game back. While two fourth-quarter fumbles by Washington led to a Giants touchdown, the comeback never materialized. This season’s struggles feel ongoing and embarrassing, and this game added another chapter. Here are the position-by-position grades.
Quarterback
Dart’s outing left plenty to be desired. He tossed an ill-timed interception right before halftime to Mike Sainristil and appeared indecisive for long stretches. He relied on his legs frequently, yet his decisions often lagged. The third quarter brought some stability, highlighted by a well-placed touchdown pass to Tyrone Tracy Jr. on an out-and-up route against Bobby Wagner, narrowing the gap to 22–14.
His second half showed improvement with a few high-caliber throws, including a 45-yard strike to Theo Johnson and a scoring pass to Tracy Jr. The effort on a late throw to Slayton wasn’t perfect, but a professional receiver should reel in that ball. Dart finished 20 of 36 for 246 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, plus 63 rushing yards and a goal-line plunge for a final stat line that doesn’t fully reflect the game’s ups and downs. Overall, not his best effort.
Grade: C-
Running Back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. delivered a striking performance, scoring twice and flashing the receiving skills he developed at Iowa. He served as the bell cow, totaling 15 carries for 70 yards and a rushing score, adding three receptions for 27 yards and another touchdown reception. His wheel route against Bobby Wagner capped a strong opening second-half drive and underscored his all-around play. Devin Singletary contributed minimally, with five rushes for 13 yards and a single catch for 1 yard.
Grade: A-
Wide Receiver
Jalin Hyatt made a notable appearance, while Darius Slayton opened with a 20-yard play off a play-action burst but suffered a costly drop on a third-quarter opportunity. Slayton did get open for a potential big gain in the end zone, but the pass from Dart sailed a bit high and was batted free by Antonio Hamilton. Slayton finished with four catches for 53 yards on ten targets. Wan’Dale Robinson operated effectively underneath and sealed the late touchdown with a 16-yard score, finishing with five catches on ten targets for 54 yards and a score. Isaiah Hodgins had just one catch for 4 yards on two targets.
Grade: C-
Tight End
Theo Johnson exhibited a well-designed 25-yard screen in the second half and made a pivotal impact on a late third-quarter drive featuring Daniel Bellinger. A notable hiccup came when a John Michael Schmitz unsportsmanlike conduct penalty slowed the drive, reminding the team to keep composure in key moments. Johnson supplied a fourth-quarter spark with a 45-yard reception after Dart audibled at the line to Jamal Adams, and Bellinger drew a pass interference flag in the end zone on the following play. Johnson finished with three catches for 72 yards on four targets, while Bellinger added three catches for 35 yards on four targets.
Grade: A+
Offensive Line
Dart’s mobility was a plus, and the unit generally held up well, allowing only one sack. The line remained a steadying presence even amid inconsistent overall offense. There were hiccups in the first half from Jermane Eluemunor and an unnecessary roughness penalty by John Michael Schmitz, but the group otherwise held up admirably.
Grade: B
Defensive Line
Washington’s play-caller Kliff Kingsbury (note: hypothetical misprint in original) emphasized the run, and the Giants paid for it with multiple unaddressed gaps. A second-quarter breakout by Croskey-Merritt highlighted the problem: a glaring, open lane that allowed an easy score. The defensive line moved with the blockers, yet the backside gap remained unoccupied, contributing to numerous creases and a general lack of disruptive plays. Dexter Lawrence’s quiet afternoon contrasted with a few productive stops by Roy Robertson-Harris. Overall, the line has struggled to impose itself this season, and the recurring inability to create negative plays is a major concern.
Grade: C
Edge
Rookie Abdul Carter made a notable impact, starting the game with a strong first impression against Laremy Tunsil, recording a tackle for a loss on his opening snap, a strip-sack in the first half, and a late-game forced fumble recovery. Washington’s blockers frequently assisted with chips on Brian Burns, yet Carter showed promise that could pay dividends as he develops. A late fumble recovery by Burns played into the Giants’ hopes of a comeback down eight with 2:30 left. Overall, Carter’s performance was encouraging for a unit seeking edge rush production.
Grade: A-
Linebacker
Bobby Okereke had a quiet showing, notably missing in the flow on Croskey-Merritt’s rushing touchdown. He failed to adequately fill the backside gap in the run game, and Abdul Carter’s outside alignment helped but didn’t fully compensate for the misalignment. Dru Phillips contributed with solid recognition, but the unit overall struggled to contain the run and maintain proper fit.
Grade: D-
Cornerback
The Giants’ cornerbacks faced limited testing from Washington’s passing attack. Cor’Dale Flott showed aggression in coverage and earned one flag late in the game that drew some debate. Marcus Mariota’s scrambling was a symptom of solid coverage on the back end, save for Deebo Samuel’s big play and McLaurin’s late touchdown against Dane Belton, which exposed some matchup challenges. Dru Phillips delivered a textbook third-down stop early in the third quarter. Flott and the unit deserve credit for remaining competitive in coverage.
Grade: B
Safety
Jevon Holland’s role as a returner drew skepticism, and the special-teams decision to test him there drew criticism. He surrendered some yardage and didn’t make a notable impact as a signing. Dane Belton did deliver a crucial strip-sack late in the game but was beaten on an early fourth-quarter TD by Terry McLaurin. Tyler Nubin flashed some late-tackling effort and a few stops, but the overall back-end play struggled to stop the Commanders’ aerial and ground attack at key moments.
Grade: D+
Special Teams
Special teams under Michael Ghobrial continued to trail the team’s performances, regressing from early-season results and contributing to the field-position battle’s downturn. Washington capitalized with a punt-return touchdown by Jaylin Lane late in the first half, adding to the Giants’ ongoing special-teams woes. Koo’s kicking also faltered, missing a 52-yard try and a 51-yard attempt wide left, while kick coverage allowed solid field positions for the Commanders. The unit showed signs of improvement on the last kickoff, but overall the special teams were a multiplier of the Giants’ struggles.
Grade: F
Bottom line: this was another tough afternoon for New York, with several units showing flashes of potential but failing to translate into victory. The team must address fundamental gaps—particularly in the run defense and back-end consistency—if they want to avoid slipping further in a tough divisional race. Thought-provoking takeaway: should the coaching staff lean more into aggressive outside pressure to disrupt Washington’s rhythm, or double down on gap discipline to curb the run game? Share your thoughts on where the Giants should prioritize improvements as they move forward.
