AT A GLANCE

Austin Seibert's seventh and final field goal from 30 yards as time expired gave the Commanders a 21-18 victory over the Giants, who fell to 0-2.

UP NEXT

The Giants stay on the road and head to Cleveland in Week 3. After they lost to the Cowboys in Week 1, the Browns defeated the Jaguars, 18-13, on Sunday.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

Thanks to a long Washington drive, Daniel Jones and the Giants did not touch the ball until 5:24 left in the first quarter. But a good thing came after the wait. Running back Devin Singletary scored his first touchdown as a Giant – and the team's first of the season – on a seven-yard run on their opening drive. It was kept alive by a 28-yard catch-and-run on third-and-long by wide receiver Malik Nabers, who led all NFL rookies with 66 receiving yards in Week 1. Fifty of those yards came on third down.

The rookie was just getting started. He finished with 10 catches for 127 yards, including a four-yard touchdown – the first of his NFL career. Eighty-six of his yards were after the catch. Perhaps his biggest play came on a 25-yard catch-and-run on third-and-nine from the Giants 47 with 4:37 left in a tie game. However, the drive ended without points. On fourth-and-four at the Commanders 22 and playing without their kicker (more on that below), the offense was kept on the field and Nabers was unable to corral a pass as he fell to the sideline. Washington took over on downs with 2:04 remaining.

Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste punched the ball out of Singletary's hand to open the second half and safety Jeremy Chinn recovered for the Commanders, who turned it into a field goal and tied the game, 12-12, at the time.

Jones completed 16 of 28 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which was a seven-yarder to wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson on third-and-goal to give the Giants an 18-15 lead.

The Giants lost the time of possession 37:32 to 22:28.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

Rookie nickel cornerback Dru Phillips made his presence felt from the very first snap, a tackle for loss on Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Phillips, who forced a fumble on his first play in his NFL debut last Sunday, later sacked Jayden Daniels as the Giants got to the rookie twice on the opening drive, which spanned 64 yards on 16 plays and lasted nearly 10 minutes. The Giants, however, were able to hold them to a short field goal in the red zone.

Overall, the Giants sacked the second overall pick five times: Phillips (1.0), linebacker Micah McFadden (1.0), safety Jason Pinnock (2.0), linebacker Bobby Okereke (1.0). The defense finished the day with 10 tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits.

Washington, which gained 215 yards on 35 carries, had scoring drives of 16, 10, 14, nine (three times), and eight plays that amounted to just 21 points on seven field goals.

A major tenet of Shane Bowen's defense is holding up in the red zone, which the Giants did on Sunday. Washington was held out of the end zone on its six trips inside the 20-yard line.

Jeff Driskel replaced Daniels for one play with 6:23 left in the second quarter after the young QB took a hit from Phillips and safety Tyler Nubin, a fellow rookie.

A week after Sam Darnold completed his first 12 passes against the Giants, Daniels was good on his first 10 attempts for 71 yards.

Cornerback Nick McCloud (knee) and rookie inside linebacker Darius Muasau (knee), who both started for the Giants in Week 1, were ruled out on Friday's final injury report.

Outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen, who underwent surgery this week for a fractured leg, did not accompany the Giants for Sunday's game. His role on the sideline was assumed by defensive assistant Ben Burress.

On Monday, Carter Coughlin (pectoral) was placed on the practice squad/injured list, while Curtis Bolton, another linebacker, was signed back to the practice squad after being released last Saturday.

The Giants elevated outside linebacker Tomon Fox and inside linebacker Ty Summers from the practice squad (standard elevation) for Sunday's game.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

The Giants on Saturday added kicker Graham Gano (groin) to the injury report with no game status, meaning he would kick against Washington. At least, that was the plan. Austin Ekeler returned the opening kickoff for what appeared to be a touchdown, but it was called back and reduced to a 35-yarder due to a holding penalty. But it came with a cost. Gano injured his hamstring on the play and was immediately ruled doubtful to return.

Punter Jamie Gillan assumed Gano's kicking duties and missed wide right on his first extra point attempt. The Giants attempted two-point conversions after their next two touchdowns but were unsuccessful.

Wide receiver/return specialist Gunner Olszewski, who aggravated a groin injury in pregame warmups last week, was ruled out on the final injury report of the week and eventually placed on injured reserve.

Knowing that could be a possibility, the Giants on Monday signed wide receiver/return specialist Ihmir Smith-Marsette. A fifth-round draft choice by Minnesota in 2021, the native of Newark, N.J., had played in 33 games with one start across his career with the Vikings (2021-22), Bears (2022), Chiefs (2022-23) and Panthers, who released him at the end of August. In 17 games with Carolina last season, the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder returned 37 punts for 322 yards (8.7-yard average), including a 79-yard touchdown in Week 10 at Chicago. Smith-Marsette also scored on a 20-yard run for the Panthers in 2023.

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

K Graham Gano (hamstring)

INACTIVES

NYG: S Anthony Johnson, CB Nick McCloud (knee), ILB Darius Muasau (knee), OLB Boogie Basham, G Jake Kubas, QB Tommy DeVito (3rd QB)

WAS: CB Emmanuel Forbes, DE Jamin Davis, G Chris Paul, ILB Dominique Hampton, WR Jamison Crowder, S Darrick Forrest, QB Sam Hartman (3rd)