AT A GLANCE: Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley enjoy playing in Washington, which is a good sign of things to come for the young nucleus. In his return from an ankle injury that kept him out two weeks, Jones threw five touchdowns while Barkley racked up a franchise-record 279 yards from scrimmage and two scores in a 41-35 overtime victory. Jones hit tight end Kaden Smith for a three-yard touchdown to win the game on the first series of overtime.
UP NEXT: The Giants wrap up the 2019 season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles, who will try to keep their NFC East division title hopes alive later today against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants have lost their last six meetings with Philadelphia.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE:
*Daniel Jones returned under center after missing two games with a high ankle sprain. Jones, who led all rookies in touchdown passes entering Week 16, showed no signs of rust and was perfect on the opening drive. He completed all three of his passes for 43 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown to Sterling Shepard. Jones went on to throw five touchdowns, breaking Charlie Conerly's record (22) for the most by a Giants rookie. Conerly held the record since 1948.
*Last Sunday was Saquon's 10th 100-yard game rushing. It was his first such game without a run of 20+ yards. "Everyone loves it when we're popping it for 60 and 80 yards," he said after the game, "but sometimes it's those 4 or 5s or gritty runs that wear a defense down." Well, Barkley did it both ways today.
His first carry against the Redskins went 32 yards. His fourth was even bigger. Barkley found the hole and burst through for a 67-yard touchdown, his longest play from scrimmage this season. Barkley finished with 189 yards on the ground and 90 more through the air, including a 33-yard touchdown catch. In his first trip to Washington, Barkley ran for a career-high 170 yards, including a career-long 78-yard score. Tiki Barber held the previous Giants single-game record with 276 yards from scrimmage in a 2002 game vs. Philadelphia.
*The Giants scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and four of their first five.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE:
*The Giants and Redskins scored touchdowns on the first five possessions combined. Rookie Dwayne Haskins, the 15th overall pick and third quarterback taken behind Jones and Kyler Murray, completed his first 10 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
*Haskins was injured on the first play of the second half on a sack split between Lorenzo Carter and Markus Golden.
*The game came down to a fourth-and-goal play from the Giants three-yard line with 41 seconds remaining with a 35-28 Giants lead. Case Keenum, who took over for Haskins after the injury, threw an incomplete pass to wide receiver Steven Sims. But rookie cornerback Corey Ballentine was called for defensive pass interference. On the next play, Keenum ran it in for a touchdown. The Redskins kicked the extra point to send it to overtime, capping a 14-play, 99-yard drive to tie the game.
*Linebacker and defensive co-captain Alec Ogletree did not play due to a back injury.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS:
*Cody Core made a great play to down a Riley Dixon punt at the two-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but it was erased by a holding penalty on Michael Thomas. Making matters worse, the re-punt was then blocked by Nate Orchard inside the Giants 20. Two plays later, Washington scored a touchdown to cut the deficit to seven points. Later in the game, Core pinned the Redskins at their own one-yard line – and that time it was not called back.
*Aldrick Rosas missed a 53-yard field goal attempt that would have made it two-possession game with 11:20 remaining.
INJURY REPORT: NYG – LB Alec Ogletree (back), WR Darius Slayton (knee, returned), OT Mike Remmers (concussion). WAS – QB Dwayne Haskins (ankle), CB Danny Johnson (hand), OT Morgan Moses (knee), WR Terry McLaurin (evaluated for head injury).
INACTIVES: NYG – QB Alex Tanney, RB Wayne Gallman, DB Rashaan Gaulden, G Chad Slade, OT Eric Smith, WR David Sills, TE Rhett Ellison (concussion). WAS – QB Colt McCoy, CB Quinton Dunbar (hamstring), CB Fabian Moreau (hamstring), RB Josh Ferguson, LB Josh Harvey-Clemons, C Ross Pierschbacher, TE Caleb Wilson.
LINEUP CHANGES: NYG – Scott Simonson for Ellison at TE. WAS – Danny Johnson for Dunbar at CB, Aaron Colvin for Moreau at CB.
View the best images from Giants vs. Redskins
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Golden Tate (15) as Washington Redskins linebacker Cole Holcomb (55) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson, second from left, is wrapped up by, New York Giants, from left, outside linebacker David Mayo, linebacker Markus Golden and outside linebacker Deone Bucannon during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. Redskins offensive tackle Morgan Moses, far left, tries to help on the play. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones looks to pass against the Washington Redskins during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, right, runs for a long touchdown while avoiding a tackle from Washington Redskins free safety Montae Nicholson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) dives over Washington Redskins cornerback Aaron Colvin for a touchdown ona long run during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, right, catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Daniel Jones, not visible, as Washington Redskins strong safety Landon Collins (20) tries to defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Daniel Jones during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, right, looks at Washington Redskins free safety Montae Nicholson (35) while scoring on a touchdown pass from quarterback Daniel Jones during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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