Giants 27, Redskins 23
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Giants receiver Victor Cruz, who struggled getting in synch with quarterback Eli Manning, came up with a late 77-yard touchdown reception Sunday to give New York a 27-23 win over the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium.
The go-ahead scoring drive, which took all of two plays and 19 seconds with less than two minutes remaining, pushed the Giants' record to 5-2. New York had lost each of its previous two games within the NFC East. Washington fell to 3-4.
The seesaw battle was 13-13 at halftime. Both kickers had two field goals, and both offenses had scored a touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Giants' defense began to break the game open, finding success in getting after Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. New York sacked Griffin three times, forcing five fumbles and recovering three of the loose balls to help interrupt Washington's momentum.
The one turnover, though, that really seemed to snap the Giants out of their funk was safety Stevie Brown's 41-yard interception return of a pass intended for tight end Logan Paulsen, which Brown returned to the Redskins' 35-yard line.
That turnover set the stage for New York's go-ahead drive, which cumulated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw at the start of the fourth quarter to give the Giants a 20-13 lead.
After the Redskins closed the scoring gap on another field goal by Kai Forbath, Washington took the lead on the second of receiver Santana Moss' two touchdown receptions. The 30-yard catch put the Redskins up 23-20 with 1:38 to play.
On the next play from scrimmage, Manning tried to connect with Bradshaw on a first-and-10 from the New York 23. When pass fell incomplete, Manning hit Cruz, who went down the right sideline for the winning touchdown.
Washington's final drive ended with a fumble by Moss after a reception. Giants cornerback Jayron Hosley recovered the ball with 29 seconds left, sealing the win.
The Giants will look to even out their record against division opponents next week when they visit the Dallas Cowboys, who beat New York 24-17 in Week 1.
NOTES: Redskins tight end Fred Davis had to leave the game in the first quarter with a left Achilles injury. Davis is the team's leading receiver. ... The Giants, who came up with two takeaways in the second half, have now recorded at least one takeaway in 36 of their last 38 games. ... Manning was sacked in the fourth quarter for the first time in three games. It was the only time he was taken down by Washington. ... Redskins middle linebacker London Fletcher suffered a right hamstring injury and did not return to the game.
