AT FIRST GLANCE
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The New York Giants spoiled a chance to increase their lead in the NFC East race and instead fell 20-14 to the Washington Redskins.
The division rivals split the season series and are both 5-6 after the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys lost on Thanksgiving Day.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Giants, who alternate home and away games for the rest of the season, "host" the Jets (6-5) at MetLife Stadium in Week 13. The co-tenants, who play every year in the preseason, last faced each other in the regular season in 2011 when the Giants won 29-14 on Christmas Eve. The game was remembered for Victor Cruz's 99-yard touchdown that sparked the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI title run.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE
With center Weston Richburg (ankle) and left guard Justin Pugh (concussion) already out, the Giants lost their third starting offensive lineman on Sunday when Geoff Schwartz, who had slid from right guard to left guard in place of Pugh, fractured his lower leg in the first half. Rookie Bobby Hart, the Giants' seventh-round draft pick, took over at right guard while John Jerry assumed the left guard position. Dallas Reynolds played center.
After having just six interceptions all season, Eli Manning threw three against the Redskins alone, the first two of which were on tipped passes. The third added to the Giants' season-long struggles in the red zone, where Manning tried to find wide receiver Rueben Randle in the end zone but was intercepted by Quinton Dunbar in the third quarter. Manning went 26 of 51 for 321 yards and two touchdowns with the three interceptions. He was sacked three times and hit eight times while the Giants couldn't find any consistency on the ground with 13 carries for just 33 yards.
Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who signed back with the Giants over the bye week and hadn't played in a game since the 2014 AFC Championship Game with the Colts, was targeted twice and had one reception for four yards. Fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had nine receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown, his fourth-straight game with at least 100 yards and his sixth of the year. Beckham, like he always does, made it interesting with a diving catch in the end zone on a 21-yard pass from Manning in the fourth quarter. The Giants cut the deficit to six points with 4:57 to play but never gained a lead throughout the entire day.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE
Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins, who had a perfect 158.3 perfect passer rating in his last outing at home against the Saints, continued his dominance at FedEx Field on Sunday. The fourth-year pro completed 20-of-29 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown against the Giants, who were gashed for a 45-yard completion by Matt Jones as well as a 63-yard score by a familiar foe in wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Second-year defensive tackle Jay Bromley blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt by Dustin Hopkins midway through the first quarter. Brad Wing had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line, increasing his season total to 22.
INACTIVES
NYG: LG Justin Pugh, C Weston Richburg, TE Larry Donnell, DE George Selvie, WR Geremy Davis, S Cooper Taylor, CB Leon McFadden.
WAS: QB Robert Griffin III, CB Deshazor Everett, S Trenton Robinson, LB Keenan Robinson, DE Frank Kearse, G Arie Kouandjio, TE Je'Ron Hamm.
STARTING LINEUP CHANGES
NYG: Will Tye for Donnell at TE; Dallas Reynolds for Richburg at C; Geoff Schwartz for Pugh at LG; John Jerry for Schwartz at RG.
WAS: Will Compton for Robinson at MLB; Bashaud Breeland for Hall at CB; Will Blackmon for Culliver at CB; DeAngelo Hall for Robinson at SS.
GAME CAPTAINS
DT Cullen Jenkins and LB Devon Kennard along with season captains QB Eli Manning and LS Zak DeOssie
INJURY REPORT
NYG: LG Geoff Schwartz (fractured lower leg), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle, returned).
WAS: DL Chris Baker (elbow, returned), TE Derek Carrier (ankle), RB Chris Thompson (shoulder), CB Quinton Dunbar (finger).
