Giants, Redskins going in two different directions after New York rout
LANDOVER, Md. — Eli Manning again looked like a two-time Super Bowl winner with four touchdown passes. Kirk Cousins looked the contrary with four interceptions — and a lost fumble.
And the New York Giants 45-14 drubbing of the Washington Redskins Thursday night leaves the two teams in entirely different positions in the NFC East.
After an 0-2 start, the Giants are 2-2 and at least within range of the first-place Philadelphia Eagles (3-0). The Redskins are last at 1-3 with two tough ones coming up: a Monday night home game against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, followed by a road game at the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals.
"After a rough start — no one wants to start 0-2 — but two wins in four days feels good," said Manning, who connected with second-year tight end Larry Donnell on three touchdown passes in the first half and added a 1-yard rushing touchdown of his own in the second half.
Giants Coach Tom Coughlin did the victory math. The Redskins had six turnovers. The Giants only had a Manning interception.
"To be plus-five is really something," said Coughlin.
The Giants host the Atlanta Falcons in their next game and will get a shot at the Eagles on the road after that.
"That was the whole thing," said Coughlin. "To be able to leave here tonight and be 2-2 and 1-0 in the division, that was huge. You know, it's exciting to be in the hunt."
Coming off a 2013 season in which he threw more interceptions (27) than touchdown passes (18), Manning struggled in the Giants' two opening losses to the Lions and Cardinals, passing for three touchdowns with four interceptions.
It all clicked for him Thursday night in an offense installed by new Giants coordinator Ben McAdoo. Manning hit 28-of-39 passes for 300 yards. In the first half, he was 20-of-24 for 209 yards.
"I thought we had a really good rhythm last week (a win over the Houston Texans), and we're getting a feel for this offense and the timing of things. ... I was hoping on the short week we would be able to continue that, and we were able to do that," said Manning.
Said Coughlin: "The quarterback got us in a lot of good situations."
He was talking about Manning, but that also applied to Cousins.
Cousins made his second start in place of injured Robert Griffin III. Last Sunday in a loss in Philadelphia, Cousins threw for 427 yards and three touchdowns.
On his first series against the Giants, he lost a fumble when sacked to give New York possession at the Redskins 24-yard line and set up a touchdown. Cousins was intercepted three times in the third quarter and again in the fourth. The Giants got 21 points off those turnovers.
With Griffin in the recovery period of 6-8 weeks after an ankle dislocation, Thursday night's game will put on hold the discussion of whether Cousins might supplant Griffin as the starter even when he's healthy.
"You go back, you do watch the film and be tough on yourself," said Cousins, who completed 19-of-33 passes for 257 yards. "As I said before (after a late interception in the loss to the Eagles), make sure it doesn't happen again. It's a lot we can learn from this game, obviously. Hopefully going forward, it will make us a better team, and I will be a better quarterback as a result."
Cousins' four second-half interceptions came in a span of eight passes.
"When he gets down (on the scoreboard) like that, he starts trying to force some balls and trying to create a spark offensively," said Redskins coach Jay Gruden. "... He just forced a few throws. Poor play calls, poor play design, forced throws, poor protection — good defense."
Meanwhile, Manning felt at home with his new offense and coordinator.
"Yes, starting to like the offense," said Manning. "It's fun. Each week we have some new things. ... We have a lot of good meetings with Coach McAdoo, just discussing, talking football and what plays we likes. ... We just have to keep working."
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