Seibert’s record-setting performance lifts Commanders to 21-18 victory over Giants

The Washington Commanders edged out a 21-18 win over the New York Giants, thanks to kicker Austin Seibert, who connected on a team-record seven field goals. His game-winning kick as time expired sent the 61,841 fans at Northwest Field home happy.

However, despite the victory, the narrow margin and reliance on Seibert’s field goals should raise concerns for head coach Dan Quinn and Washington fans alike.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels continued his growth as an NFL signal caller. Daniels was 22 of 29 for 226 yards. He was sacked five times but managed to scramble for 44 yards. He also missed one play after having the wind knocked out of him.

“It’s obviously a story that we’re going to keep working through. We don’t want the hits,” Quinn said in his post-game press conference.

The Commanders dominated the time of possession stat the entire game. Washington held the ball for more than 37 minutes. The offense made six trips to the red zone but came up empty-handed, not scoring a single touchdown. Only Seibert’s team record seven field goals kept the team from an embarrassing loss.

But a win is a win, and it lets Quinn highlight the positives after the game.

“At the end of it… I thought the penalties were the real story that knocked us out of some (scoring chances),” Quinn said. “I thought those were things that we’ve got to be able to clean up.”

Commanders Running back Brian Robinson Jr. had a career day rushing for 133 yards on 17 carries, including a 40-yard run on a third and one play near mid-field in the second half.

“It feels great,” Robinson said. “It’s been a while since I’ve got 17 in one game, so I appreciate all that love from my coaches, and we just got to keep building off of that.”

The good feelings after a walk-off win masked some ominous problems, particularly on defense.

Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Neighbors caught ten passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, one of two by quarterback Daniel Jones.

Fellow running back Austin Ekeler also had an impactful game with 85 all-purpose yards. Eckler also ran the opening kickoff back for an apparent touchdown but was nullified by a holding penalty.

“It felt good,” Ekeler said in an interview on the team’s post-game show. “Obviously, you don’t try to win a game without scoring touchdowns, but you’ll take a win any way you can get one,” he said.

One puzzling roster move remains unexplained: the absence of defensive end Jamin Davis. The former first-round draft pick was deactivated before the game, with no reason given. Davis appeared to play well against Tampa Bay last weekend.

The win evens the Commanders’ record at 1-1 (1-0 in the NFC East). In week three, the team will travel to Cincinnati for a Monday night game with the Bengals.