EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — J.J. McCarthy had more passing yards than any other game in his NFL career. It turned out to be three of his tries that didn't work at the end that kept him from sending fans to the exits happy in his first home start with the New York Giants.
McCarthy's pass was picked off with 34 seconds left by Washington's Rasul Douglas on a jump ball intended for Malik Nabers. He also was incomplete on his previous two throws when the Commanders blitzed and brought the pressure that got to the quarterback.
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New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy (18) celebrates after tight end Isaiah Likely scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Washington Commanders cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) celebrates after intercepting a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, left, during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Washington Commanders cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy, left, greets Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) following an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy (18) reacts after his team's loss to the Washington Commanders in an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
“It’s easy to second-guess the final two passes," McCarthy said after the 24-21 loss Thursday night. "The pressure was coming. It’s one-on-one outside. I wanted to give my playmaker a chance."
After Jayden Daniels bounced back from his first two interceptions of the season to lead a go-ahead scoring drive, the Giants got the ball back with less than a minute on the clock. McCarthy had his chance to author a signature performance in prime time.
It started strong, with a 21-yard completion to Malachi Fields. And then first-year Washington defensive coordinator Daronte Jones — who was with McCarthy in Minnesota working under guru Brian Flores — decided to go all out.
Incomplete passes to Fields and Darnell Mooney followed, and then the interception.
"Zero blitzes, and those are the routes getting run," coach John Harbaugh said.
It put a sour ending on what had been a strong game for McCarthy, who had a 66-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely among his 23 completions for 293 yards.
“I'm sure you could look at the tape and we’re going to be sitting there disappointed of what if, could have done this," McCarthy said. “Could’ve bought more time with a little more depth, but at the end of the day the thought process was give it to one of my guys and have him go make a play.”
Falling behind 10-7 and 17-14 also didn't help McCarthy and the Giants, whose hold on the NFC East is far more tenuous than it was going in.
“We have to get off to a faster start and we have to to continue to make plays," McCarthy said. “We didn’t make enough plays to win it.”
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy (18) celebrates after tight end Isaiah Likely scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Washington Commanders cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) celebrates after intercepting a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, left, during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Washington Commanders cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy, left, greets Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) following an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy (18) reacts after his team's loss to the Washington Commanders in an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Even after Jayden Daniels threw two interceptions and it looked like the Washington Commanders were hurtling toward a painful loss at the New York Giants, teammates remembered what it was like when the franchise quarterback burst onto the scene in 2024 and led some memorable comebacks in a magical rookie year.
“We felt it,” tight end Ben Sinnott said. “Being able to get another opportunity with the ball in our hands to go win it, it definitely took me back to that season.”
Daniels delivered, making up for his first two interceptions this year by connecting with Stefon Diggs on a go-ahead, 32-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left to complete a 24-21 victory Thursday night in what was essentially a must-win game.
“You could mess up the whole game but still have a chance to win,” said Daniels, who was 23 of 33 for 249 yards and also had TD throws to Sinnott and Antonio Williams while running 10 times for 28 yards.
Coming back keeps hope alive for the Commanders (3-5-1), who moved two games back of the NFC East-leading Giants (5-3-1) and now own the tiebreaker after the teams tied last month.
“It just gives you confidence we can go out there and compete and we can close out a game versus the top dog,” Daniels said. “Last time we played them it didn’t go the way that we wanted to or planned to, so we went out there and we improved from the last time. We responded when we had those moments.”
Daniels getting picked off by Jevon Holland on his 208th pass attempt and Ar'Darius Washington on his 211th looked like it would haunt Washington, which allowed J.J. McCarthy and Isaiah Likely to hook up for a 66-yard, go-ahead TD midway through the fourth quarter and saw Cam Skattebo run into the end zone twice.
But the Giants were unable to move the ball effectively enough on the ground to run the clock. One QB sneak by Winston was originally called a first down, but coach Dan Quinn challenged it and it got reversed.
Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise was adamant about Winston not getting it, simply, “Because I stopped him.”
Winston tried to get the Commanders to jump offside with a hard count of “Who Let the Dogs Out” — with a series of barks — but that did not work and New York kept giving Daniels the ball back by punting the ball multiple times.
“It’s a missed opportunity, certainly, but it doesn’t change things for us,” coach John Harbaugh said. “There is still a lot of football to play. We played well — just not well enough. We worked hard for this, but you can’t let it bring you down. This was one that got away.”
Aided by a pass interference call, Washington marched down the field and got in striking range. Diggs broke open and was able to walk and fall backwards into the end zone to celebrate his 80th career TD reception. He's the 30th player in league history to reach that mark.
McCarthy threw for a career-high 293 yards in his first home start for New York since a trade from Minnesota in late September but was intercepted by Rasul Douglas in the final minute, sending fans to the exits.
“It’s easy to second-guess the final two passes,” McCarthy said. “The pressure was coming. It’s one-on-one outside. I wanted to give my playmaker a chance. This football team is going to get better from this. I know it.”
Washington’s Drew Stevens made a 46-yard field goal, while New York’s Dominic Zvada missed a 33-yard attempt wide left. Zvada is 8 of 14 since making nine in a row to start his NFL career.
“You can’t start firing guys left and right,” Harbaugh said. “I believe in him. He’s going to make kicks for us.”
Commanders: Tight end Chig Onkonkwo left in the second quarter with a back injury and returned after halftime.
Giants: Safety Jason Pinnock left with a back injury early in the third quarter.
Commanders: Host the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Nov. 23.
Giants: Host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Nov. 22.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott (82) leaps over New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock (25) to avoid a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs into the end zone for a touchdown as Washington Commanders defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (96) and safety Percy Butler (35) defend during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Washington Commanders cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) runs toward the end zone to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
