Suddenly, a Giants season that only two weeks ago appeared to be lost amidst an 0-2 start has promise.
The Giants won their second consecutive game Sunday, beating the Redskins, 24-3, at MetLife Stadium and they now have life at 2-2 and with rookie quarterback Daniel Jones showing that last week’s stirring comeback victory in Tampa was not a fluke.
It was Jones’ first home start and it came without the services of star running back Saquon Barkley, who’s out with a high ankle sprain that is expected to keep him sidelined for at least another month.
But Barkley’s absence didn’t seem to bother the Giants as they built a 17-3 halftime lead — partly on their own merit and partly as a result of the Redskins’ ineptitude, which included nine penalties for 41 yards in the first 30 minutes.
Jones finished his second career start 23-of-31 for 225 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Giants’ maligned defense forced four Redskins turnovers — all on INTs — and converted those into 14 points.
The Giants completely dominated the 0-4 Redskins in the first half, outgaining them 233-86 and amassing 17 first downs to just four.
But two Jones INTs in the second quarter stalled Giants drives and prevented them from blowing out the Redskins before halftime.
The Giants took a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard Jones scoring pass to Wayne Gallman, Barkley’s replacement, with 8:45 remaining in the first quarter.
It was set up by linebacker Ryan Connelly’s interception — off a Janoris Jenkins tip — on the Redskins’ third play from scrimmage.
The first scoring drive was kept alive by Jones, who completed a 15-yard pass to Gallman on third-and-17 then a 5-yard pass to Sterling Shepard on fourth-and-two, then a 13-yard pass to Shepard on third-and-six.
The Giants took a 14-0 lead on their second offensive possession when Gallman scored on a 1-yard run with 12:01 remaining in the second quarter. That drive was sparked by a 22-yard run by Gallman, who had 49 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards in the first half and finished with 63 yards rushing and 55 receiving.
The Giants were poised to score again when Jones was picked off by cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who stepped in front of Shepard with 8:17 remaining in the first half.
The Redskins failed to convert points on the turnover.
On the Giants’ next possession, though, Jones threw another INT to Dunbar with 6:35 remaining in the half.
This is when embattled Redskins head coach Jay Gruden finally decided to insert rookie first-round pick Dwayne Haskins Jr. into the game, replacing ineffective veteran starter Case Keenum, who was 6-of-11 for 37 yards and the INT to Connelly.
In his NFL debut, Haskins helped lead Washington to its only points of the half, a 21-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins with 2:14 remaining in the half.
The Giants made it 17-3 at the half on a 30-yard field goal by Aldrick Rosas as time expired.
The Giants looked like they were en route to a 24-3 lead when backup running back Jon Hilliman fumbled the ball away inside the Washington 5-yard line.
Washington defensive lineman Jim Settle forced the fumble and safety Montae Nicholson recovered it at the Redskins’ 2-yard line.
But whatever lingering angst there was from the turnover in the red zone was eliminated moments later when Giants safety Jabrill Peppers picked off Haskins and returned it 32 yards for a TD and a 24-3 lead with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter.
Jenkins, who had a miserable game against the Buccaneers last Sunday, picked off Haskins twice in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
The Giants next play the Vikings Sunday at MetLife Stadium.