1) Manning's interceptions. Eli Manning made the plays when he needed to on Sunday but threw two interceptions that led to the Giants needing fourth-quarter magic once again. The first came with 5:15 to play in the third after the Giants had driven down to Washington's 26-yard line. The damage was limited, however, when the Redskins turned it right back over on the next drive. But Manning's second interception proved to be more costly as it gave the ball back to the Redskins on the Giants' 32. Washington kicked a field goal four plays later and cut the Giants' lead to four points.
"That's something I've got to fix and I've got to get better and make sure I'm not putting us in that situation, and make the plays when they're there," Manning said. "But something we've been really good at over the years is the two-minute drive when the game's on the line and making plays when we need to make plays."
2) Brown grabs his third pick of the year. In his third straight game starting in place of the injured Kenny Phillips, safety Stevie Brown is making the most out of the role on his new team. The Giants forced four turnovers in Sunday's victory, including the interception by Brown late in the third quarter following Eli Manning's first interception. Brown returned it 41 yards into Washington territory, which eventually led to Ahmad Bradshaw's one-yard touchdown.
3) RGIII converts on fourth down. In addition to being 6-for-13 on third down conversions, Washington moved the chains on all three of their fourth-down attempts on Sunday. The most crucial one came on fourth-and-10 with 2:07 remaining while the Giants led, 20-16. Quarterback Robert Griffin III did what he does best and kept the play alive long enough to find tight end Logan Paulsen open for a 19-yard gain. Washington took back the lead three plays later on Santana Moss' 30-yard touchdown.
"It was impressive, it really was," Justin Tuck said. "Being in those third-and-long situations at the end of the game and he didn't pick up a first down on that, but just getting it to a fourth-and-short where they could go for it, or that fourth-and-10 play where he is scrambling and has JPP and myself and Osi chasing after him, he just seemed to always keep his eyes down field."
4) Cruz does it again. Down by three, the Giants took the field on their own 23 with 1:27 left in the game. They needed just 19 seconds of it. After an incomplete pass to Ahmad Bradshaw, Manning found Victor Cruz deep over the middle, and the wide receiver took it 77 yards for a touchdown. Just like old times.
5) Blackburn seals the game. The only problem with Cruz's latest dramatics was that it gave the ball back to Washington with 1:13 left on the clock. That's when the defense stepped up. Three plays into the drive, Griffin completed an 11-yard pass to Santana Moss at Washington's 43. He was met by Chase Blackburn, who spun him around and stripped the ball away. Rookie cornerback Jayron Hosley was there to recover it, sending Manning and the offense onto the field for the victory formation.
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