The Washington Commanders came into MetLife Stadium as the struggling team in Thursday night’s NFC East matchup. They left with a 24-21 upset of the division-leading New York Giants, a late touchdown from Stefon Diggs and a game-sealing interception that tightened the division race.
How it ended
With the Giants protecting a lead late in the fourth quarter, Washington drove for the go-ahead score. Diggs caught a touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels with under a minute left, according to Yahoo Sports. On New York’s final drive, quarterback J.J. McCarthy was intercepted by cornerback Rasul Douglas, ending the comeback attempt.
Special teams played a big part. Giants rookie kicker Dominic Zvada missed a 33-yard field goal and sent a kickoff out of bounds, and a short 12-yard punt by Jordan Stout gave Washington good field position for its winning drive, Yahoo Sports reported.
By the numbers
- Stefon Diggs (WAS): 6 catches, 83 yards, 1 touchdown on 10 targets.
- J.J. McCarthy (NYG): 23 of 36 for 293 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception. He was expected to play through a hip pointer, as we reported before kickoff.
- Jayden Daniels (WAS): threw two interceptions, but stayed efficient and calm on the decisive drive.
- Sonny Styles (WAS) and Arvell Reese (NYG): 13 tackles apiece.
- Malik Nabers (NYG): 5 catches for 44 yards and a lost fumble.
The Giants led 7-3 late in the first half, according to ESPN’s game tracker, before the teams traded blows in a back-and-forth second half.
Yahoo Sports also singled out Commanders tight end Isaiah Likely for a strong all-around game. On the other side, the Giants’ defense gave McCarthy chances by forcing two Daniels interceptions, but New York could not turn those takeaways into enough points to pull away. That missed opportunity, more than any single play, may be what Giants coaches remember most from this one.
What it means for the NFC East
The loss drops New York to 5-3-1, still first in the division, while Washington improves to 3-5-1, according to Yahoo Sports. The Commanders now own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Giants and sit two games back. Before Thursday, New York had a four-game cushion.
Both teams face a tough remaining schedule, which makes the race hard to call. For Washington, the win snapped a rough stretch and gave Daniels a confidence-building finish. For the Giants, the miscues on special teams and the late turnover will be the focus of a long weekend of film study.
What to watch next
The rest of Week 10 continues Sunday, November 15, and Monday, November 16. Giants and Commanders fans will be watching the other division games closely now that the gap at the top has narrowed. Upstormed News will keep following the NFC East race.
For more of the week in sports, see our coverage of the Thursday night preview and other recent games on our Sports page.
Why it matters for families
Thursday night games are a weekly ritual in many homes, and this one delivered a classic finish. For young athletes, it is also a good lesson: small plays, like a missed kick or a short punt, can decide a game as much as a highlight-reel catch. Rivalry games are a great chance to talk with kids about sportsmanship, too, whether your team wins or loses.
Can the Commanders catch the Giants in the NFC East? Make your prediction in the comments.
Read more: Giants host Commanders on Thursday Night Football; McCarthy expected to play
Sources: Yahoo Sports, “Winners, losers as Commanders upset Giants 24-21 on Thursday Night Football” (November 12, 2026); Yahoo Sports, “Did Giants beat Commanders? Final score of NFL ‘Thursday Night Football’ game” (November 13, 2026); ESPN, “Commanders vs. Giants (Nov 12, 2026)”
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