Giants Outlast Washington Comeback

 GIANTS 23 - WASHINGTON 20 

It wasn't pretty, but for the first time in a very long time the Giants found a way to win a football game on Sunday. 

In a season where the Giants have found ways to lose games in the fourth quarter, two huge interceptions of Washington quarterback Alex Smith, prevented another heartbreaking loss as the Giants came away with the 23-20 victory. 

The Giants had jumped out to a 20-3 lead at the half, thanks to a 10-yard touchdown by Wayne Gallman, and a 16-yard touchdown pass by Daniel Jones to Evan Engram.

However Washington stormed back in the second half when Smith, who had come in for an injured Kyle Allen, started to catch fire for the Football Team. Smith led Washington on a six-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a Antonio Gibson 1-yard plunge that cut the Giants lead in half, 20-10. 

After both teams exchanged field goals, Smith connected with wide receiver Terry McLaurin on a 68-yard catch-n-run for a touchdown that cut the Giants lead to a single field goal, 23-20. 

Now it was getting tense. And it didn't help matters when the Giants were forced to punt after an offensive pass interference penalty on Engram botched what was developing into a nice drive that had Big Blue in Washington territory. 

Fortunately for the Giants the D stepped up huge. With Alex Smith picking apart the Giants secondary on short, precise throws to move the ball to the Giants' 40-yard line, the veteran quarterback ran into some tough luck when his pass for J.D McKissic was airmailed into the waiting hands of safety Jabrill Peppers for the interception. 

Unfortunately the Giants couldn't capitalize after the offense was turned around quickly on a three-and-out. The only positive that came from the drive was the fact that Jones didn't fumble the ball when sacked by Kamren Crul. 

With two minutes to go it seemed inevitable that Washington would either tie or win the game in the waning seconds. That inevitability never happened. 

On second and six, Smith rolled to his left and threw a pass right into the waiting arms of safety Logan Ryan who picked it off the seal the deal. In a week where Ryan's own wife had to have emergency surgery to save her life, the Giants safety, who made a career of big plays in New England and Tennessee, had his shinning moment as a Giant.

With the victory the Giants sweep Washington for the second straight year, and have won five straight against them. The Giants are 2-7 on the year in a season where they have struggled to close out games. Imagine if the Giants closed out Philadelphia and Tampa the past two weeks? They could have been on a four-game winning streak! Oh well, the Giants will get another shot at the Eagles on Sunday.