The Giants beat Washington 32-21 Thursday night to raise their record to 1-2, a must-win that had plenty of the plays we’ve come to associate with Thursday night football, a brazen money grab by the NFL that typically features two teams still limping along three days removed from their last soiree of sanctioned violence.
Kirk Cousins played terribly? Yeah, didn’t see that coming. The Giants’ defense surrendered 15 points in the fourth quarter? It was like déjà vu all over again, what with the team’s historic accomplishment of being the first squad to throw away two double-digit fourth quarter leads in the first two games of the season.
No, this third game of the season wasn’t altogether pretty, but a win was definitely the best thing the Giants could have hoped for, especially since a loss is an unwelcome thing among most NFL teams.
Let’s look at some other best things associated with the Giants-Washington game.
Best cure for an NFL team’s troubles: Winning.
Best time to jump needlessly in the air: Is not right before you try to catch a pass, Larry Donnell.
Best guess as to what Donnell was thinking when he caught a pass and did a somersault into a defender just as he was about to be tackled: “Whee!!!”
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Best take that with you next time: The ball has to go into the end zone with you, Matt Jones.
Best play we’ve seen out of starting running back Rashad Jennings this season: The blocked punt that gave the Giants a 2-0 lead.
Best reception total for a wide receiver through his first 15 NFL games: Odell Beckham Jr., 110.
Best number of receiving yards through his first 15 NFL games: Beckham, 1,574.
Best not do that: Washington had at least double coverage on Beckham for most of the game until that 30-yard scoring strike from Manning, who recognized Beckham was in single coverage.
Best way to describe Beckham’s touchdown dance: A work in progress.
Best rushing offense in the NFL: Belonged to Washington coming into this game.
Best Manning playing quarterback in the NFL right now: Definitely isn’t Peyton.
Best kicker to have in fantasy: Might be Josh Brown if the Giants’ offense continues to stall in enemy territory.
Best chance to see Victor Cruz dance the salsa again: Might come next week when he’s finally expected to return from injury.
Best stat to demonstrate Eli’s effectiveness through three games: Zero interceptions.
Best place to find Giants middle line backer Jon Beason: On the field, finally.
Best time to produce now that Preston Parker is no longer dropping passes for the team: Rueben Randle finally awoke from his early season coma to catch seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Best nose for the ball: Prince Amukamara had an interception, six solo tackles and two assists.
Best play made by Washington: Rashad Ross’s 101 yard kickoff return touchdown.
Best time to rest their weary bones: The Giants now have nine days until their next game against Buffalo.
