Commanders had a hard time with Cam Skattebo
The Washington Commanders know precisely what to expect from New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo. He's a physical runner who loves contact, and he isn't afraid to challenge defenders to see what they are made of.
The Commanders had a hard time containing Skattebo, who no doubt had some extra motivation after the Giants went running back shopping before the trade deadline without finding the right deal. Gap discipline on the edges was poor at times, and the backfield threat needs only the smallest creases to punish the opposition.
Skattebo was relentless in the red zone, and the Commanders fell short of restricting his influence.
Spreading the offensive wealth
Losing wide receiver Terry McLaurin to a season-ending torn patellar tendon was another gut punch for the Commanders. Any team will miss a player of this caliber, but Jayden Daniels did a nice job spreading the wealth and keeping the Giants' secondary on their toes.
Everyone seemed to get in on the act. Daniels trusted his playmakers to come through, and they did a nice job. Nobody put up elite numbers, but the distribution to multiple targets kept things ticking over nicely.
Without McLaurin, this is something that will have to continue. There isn't a true WR1 on Washington's roster, but this showed they can be effective without being particularly dynamic.
Commanders' pressure packages vs. J.J. McCarthy
The Commanders bring the heat. Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones comes from the Brian Flores coaching tree. J.J. McCarthy knew precisely what to expect, having worked with the coach during their time together on the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones was relentless, sending pressure through creative packages that gave McCarthy a lot to think about. The Commanders had some success, but in fairness to the signal-caller, he coped much better as the contest wore on.
A critical moment came in the fourth quarter. The Commanders sent veteran safety Nick Cross on the blitz, and he somehow hesitated instead of hitting McCarthy, allowing him to find tight end Isaiah Likely for a long touchdown.
It was a fascinating duel throughout the contest. After the Commanders got the upper hand early, the honors were just about even overall.
Commanders finally come through in the clutch
The Commanders have been heavily criticized for not coming through in the big moments this season. It looked for a while like that might be the case again when Jayden Daniels threw his first two interceptions of the campaign in the fourth quarter. But there was still time.
Daniels was much more clinical in the closing stages. The Commanders gained yards after a defensive pass interference penalty, and the signal-caller found Stefon Diggs for a go-ahead score.
They nearly got a fumble recovery on the kickoff, which would have iced the game. With everything on the line, Daronte Jones got even more aggressive, leading to cornerback Rasul Douglas securing a game-winning interception.
And finally, head coach Dan Quinn got some breathing space heading into the mini bye week.
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