The Personal Injury Attorney in East Rutherford, NJ, You Can Trust

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer

East Rutherford, N.J. — Jayden Daniels didn't need to throw a Hail Mary on the final play — or do anything spectacular, really, to lead his Washington Commanders past the bumbling New York Giants.

The sensational rookie made plays with his arm and legs and got a solid supporting effort from his defense as the Commanders again showed the rest of the NFL they're for real by beating the Giants 27-22 on Sunday. Washington moved to 7-2 for the first time since 1996.

Daniels hit Terry McLaurin on scoring passes of 1 and 18 yards in the first half, and Austin Ekeler, filling in for the injured Brian Robinson, scored on a 1-yard run as the Commanders completed a season sweep of the Giants (2-7).

Commanders coach Dan Quinn said his biggest concern against the NFC East rival Giants was whether his team would recover from the emotional win over the Bears, which ended when Noah Brown caught Daniels' deep throw that was tipped to him in the end zone with no time left.

“It was like a historic win for us last week at home in the fashion it went,” Quinn said. “How do you recognize it and yet fill the tanks back up knowing you're heading back into a division game? I thought it showed a lot of maturity from the team and poise to say, ‘That was cool, now we got to get right back into the next process.’”

Daniels was in control throughout, finishing 15 of 22 for 209 yards. He iced the game with a 42-yard pass to Olamide Zaccheaus after New York got within five.

“I’m just happy for the fan base,” said Daniels, who added that his focus remains one game and one week at a time. “They can be so proud of the product we are putting out on the field.”

Austin Seibert, who kicked seven field goals in the Commanders' 21-18 win in September, added two more, and linebacker Dante Fowler had a big strip-sack early to set up the opening touchdown. The Giants have lost four straight and fell to 0-5 at home.

“Tough game, competitive game,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “In the end just didn’t make enough plays to get the outcome we wanted.”

Daniel Jones threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Manhertz and powered his way through two tackles on a 2-yard fourth-quarter TD run for New York. He added a late 35-yard TD pass to rookie Theo Johnson, but the Giants missed both 2-point conversion attempts. Jude McAtamney kicked a 31-yard field goal in the Irishman's NFL debut.

The Giants were their own worst enemy. Jones' fumble on the sack by Fowler was ruled an incomplete pass on the field, but Washington challenged the call and won. The play started at the Washington 29 and ended with Bobby Wagner recovering the fumble at the New York 31.

New York also had a major missed tackle on a third-and-18 play late in the second quarter, leading to a first down that set up McLaurin's 18-yard TD on the next play. And the Giants had a TD called back by an offensive pass interference on fourth-and-1 from the Washington 3 while trailing 21-7.

Jones finished 20 of 26 for 174 yards. Malik Nabers, Daniels' LSU teammate, had nine catches for 59 yards. Nabers had a friendly exchange with Daniels after an incomplete pass in the fourth quarter.

Nabers would not say what the two discussed. He was willing to comment on Daniels' play.

“Nothing different. Leading his team to a win — he’s going to do that every time he steps on the field,” Nabers said.

Injuries

Washington: Robinson was inactive with a hamstring injury. ... DT Philarian Mathis was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter.

Giants: WRs Darius Slayton and Ihmir Smith-Marsette were both evaluated for concussions late.

Up next

Commanders: Host Pittsburgh next Sunday.

Giants: Travel to Germany, where they will face Carolina next Sunday in Munich.

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By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer

East Rutherford, N.J. — Malachi Corley thought he scored his first NFL touchdown for the New York Jets — but the rookie wide receiver dropped the ball before he crossed the goal line.

And it rolled out of the end zone. So, no touchdown, a turnover for the Jets and one huge rookie mistake.

“First of all, you can’t do that,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said he told Corley. “Second of all, you owe us one.”

With the Jets — who went on to beat Houston 21-13 on Thursday night — at the Texans 19 early in the second quarter, Corley took the toss from Aaron Rodgers and zipped down the right sideline. Corley sped into the end zone, but just before he crossed the goal line, he dropped the ball out of his right hand to celebrate.

A video review showed he had not gotten into the end zone before he dropped it. So, Corley was credited with an 18-yard run and a fumble. And because it rolled out of the end zone, it was a touchback and a turnover.

The play left the crowd at MetLife Stadium — which was only about three-quarters full on Halloween night — stunned.

“Definitely frustrated, to be honest,” Ulbrich said about his initial reaction. “And angry at the same time. But, what an amazing opportunity for this kid to grow and learn from. I promise you 10 years from now when he’s still playing in this league that will never happen again.”

Corley was a third-round draft pick out of Western Kentucky who has seen little action this season. He entered with just a 4-yard catch in four NFL games.

The early touchdown celebration was reminiscent of DeSean Jackson's gaffe while he was a rookie with Philadelphia during a “Monday Night Football” game in the 2008 season. He celebrated a touchdown against Dallas prematurely by flipping the football behind him at the 1-yard line before he got into the end zone.

Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday that the Jets had actually shown the players the mistake last week by Atlanta's Kyle Pitts, who pulled up near the end zone at the end of a 49-yard touchdown and safety Antoine Winfield knocked the ball out of Pitts' hand. Officials ruled that Pitts had crossed the goal line before the ball came loose.

“So it's definitely on his radar,” Rodgers said of Corley. “Great play call, great execution. The only thing I'd just say to Malachi, and I said this to him on the sideline: 'Why would you ever even drop the ball? That's your first touchdown. You celebrate with that thing, you run to the sideline with that thing.'"

And then, Rodgers told him, he should've handed the ball to one of the team's equipment crew members to make sure he had his touchdown keepsake secured.

“And you say: 'I want this back. I'm just giving this to you right now, but this is mine,'” Rodgers said. “I mean, it's his first touchdown. But listen, he was excited. It's a play that happened. It sucks, it's disappointing. Nobody feels worse than he does, but it's kind of a crazy thing.”

During a video call Friday, Ulbrich echoed Rodgers' sentiment that Corley should've never let go of the football.

“Never make it close,” the interim coach said. “Like, we don’t put anything in the hands of the ref, ever, so that is 100% on us as coaches, making sure we emphasize it, and the player executing that you squeeze that ball hard enough to pop it until you absolutely are in the end zone.”

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