New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders Match Player Stats: Week 15 Full Breakdown

New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders Match Player Stats: Washington Commanders 29–21 New York Giants (December 14, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ) (Week Washington improves to a record of 4-10 while New York falls to 2-12. Statistically, the game was far closer than a final score of 31–19 suggests: The Giants totaled more offensive yards and more first downs gained (23 in comparison to Washington’s 21), but Washington had by far the better quality high-impact plays.

Statistical recap: New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: QB stats, Rushing and receiving leaders’ stats, Defense and special teams impact stats – Turnovers most responsible for Washington Winning (or Losing), etc.

Giants vs Commanders Quick Match Summary

Washington, down 3–0, had managed to mount a 19-point charge in the second quarter for a 22–7 halftime edge. The Jets found the end zone with a TD in both Q3 and Q4 (Mike White 1-yd pass to Ty Johnson) but could not close the gap as Washington’s Terry McLaurin scored on a 51-yard reception,n giving enough cushion.

Every stat you need: This is a Week 15 game froDecember 14414, 2025. Washington won 21–6 in the Week 1 meeting vs. the Giants

New York Giants vs Washington Commanders Match Player Stats

The box score presents an unusual picture. New York finished with more total offense, but Washington was more efficient in several high-leverage situations and received a touchdown from special teams.

Quarterback Stats

Mariota attempted only 19 passes but generated 211 yards, including the game’s longest offensive scoring play-a 51-yard touchdown to McLaurin. His 109.8 passer rating was considerably higher than Dart’s 83.8.

Dart produced more total passing yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw the game’s only interception. His 246 passing yards came on 36 attempts, compared with Mariota’s 211 on 19.

The difference shows why passing totals alone can be misleading. Dart accumulated more volume, while Mariota generated more yards per attempt and avoided an interception.

Rushing Stats

Croskey-Merritt was the game’s leading rusher with 96 yards on 18 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. He scored Washington’s first touchdown on a 16-yard run in the second quarter.

Dart made a substantial contribution with his legs as well. His 63 rushing yards included a 29-yard run, while Tracy led New York’s running backs with 70 yards and a touchdown.

At the team level, the rushing battle was almost even. New York finished with 146 rushing yards, one more than Washington’s 145.

Receiving Stats

Theo Johnson surprisingly led all players with 72 receiving yards, while McLaurin led Washington with 69.

McLaurin’s raw yardage was modest compared with some star-receiver performances, but the timing of his production mattered. His 51-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter pushed Washington’s lead from 22–14 to 29–14.

Robinson finished with five catches for 54 yards and a late touchdown. Slayton received 10 targets but converted only four into receptions.

Defensive Player Stats

This game featured several defensive plays that mattered more than basic tackle totals.

Washington defensive back Mike Sainristil intercepted Dart and returned the ball 55 yards. That combination—takeaway plus long return—created more value than an ordinary interception near the original line of scrimmage.

New York generated its own impact plays late in the game. Abdul Carter was credited with two forced fumbles, while Dane Belton also forced two. Brian Burns recovered one of Washington’s fumbles and returned it 23 yards.

The Giants therefore created opportunities to stay in the game even after falling behind. The problem was that Washington had already built enough separation through scoring efficiency and special teams.

Special Teams Stats

Special teams had a direct effect on the final score.

Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. He finished with three punt returns for 91 yards, an average of 30.3 yards per return.

That touchdown is critical to understanding the game because return yards are not counted as offensive yards. Washington could therefore finish with fewer offensive yards than New York while still receiving seven points directly from special teams.

Jake Moody also made field goals from 46, 39, and 42 yards. Washington’s failed extra point after Lane’s touchdown left the score at 19–7 at that stage.

Giants vs Commanders Team Stats Comparison

New York finished with 44 more total net yards, yet Washington scored eight more points.

That apparent contradiction is one of the most useful lessons from the game.

Washington’s offense did not need to outgain New York because the Commanders received a touchdown from Lane’s punt return, a major field-position swing from Sainristil’s interception return, and a 51-yard touchdown from McLaurin.

The Giants moved the ball reasonably well, particularly in the second half, but total yardage did not translate into an equivalent scoring advantage.

Marcus Mariota vs Jaxson Dart Quarterback Comparison

Passing Efficiency

Dart threw for 246 yards compared with Mariota’s 211, but Mariota was far more efficient on a per-attempt basis.

Mariota averaged approximately 11.1 gross passing yards per attempt. Dart averaged approximately 6.8.

That difference came largely from Washington’s explosive completions. McLaurin had a 51-yard touchdown, Sinnott produced a 36-yard reception, and Noah Brown had a 28-yard catch.

Dart had his own explosive moments, including a 42-yard completion to Theo Johnson, but his interception reduced the value of his higher passing volume.

Rushing Contribution

Both quarterbacks added meaningful rushing production.

Dart gained 63 yards on nine attempts, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. Mariota gained 43 on 10 attempts.

Combining their passing and rushing yardage gives a useful additional perspective:

*Combined yardage is a simple calculation for comparison and is not an official NFL statistic.

Dart generated more total volume, but Washington still won because quarterback yardage was only one part of the game.

Turnover Impact

Dart’s interception was particularly costly because Sainristil returned it 55 yards.

Washington’s offense also lost two fumbles, so this was not a game in which one team completely dominated turnover control. The difference was how much value Washington generated from its defensive takeaway and special-teams play.

Top Performers From Giants vs Commanders

Washington Commanders Standouts

Marcus Mariota: 211 passing yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and 43 rushing yards. His efficiency was more important than his low attempt total.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 96 rushing yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. He provided Washington’s most consistent conventional rushing production.

Terry McLaurin: Three receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. More than 70% of his receiving yardage came on the 51-yard fourth-quarter scoring play.

Jaylin Lane: A 63-yard punt-return touchdown and 91 return yards on three punts. His impact came almost entirely outside Washington’s offense.

Mike Sainristil: One interception with a 55-yard return, giving Washington a major field-position gain.

New York Giants Standouts

Jaxson Dart: 246 passing yards, two passing touchdowns,s and 63 rushing yards. He kept the Giants competitive despite the first-half deficit.

Tyrone Tracy Jr.: 70 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns—one rushing and one receiving.

Theo Johnson: Three catches for a game-high 72 receiving yards, including a 42-yard reception.

Wan’Dale Robinson: Five receptions for 54 yards and New York’s final touchdown.

Abdul Carter and Dane Belton: Both created late fumble opportunities, giving New York chances to close the gap.

5 Player Performances That Shaped the 29–21 Result

1. Terry McLaurin’s 51-Yard Touchdown

New York entered the fourth quarter trailing 22–14, which meant one touchdown could potentially tie the game.

McLaurin changed that immediately. His 51-yard touchdown from Mariota extended Washington’s lead to 29–14.

It was not simply 51 receiving yards; it was a high-leverage scoring play that forced New York back into a two-score deficit.

2. Jaylin Lane’s Punt-Return Touchdown

Lane’s 63-yard punt return was one of the game’s biggest differences.

Washington did not need to sustain an offensive drive or convert in the red zone. The special-teams unit created six points directly, with the extra point missed.

This is why offensive yardage alone gives an incomplete picture of the final score.

3. Mike Sainristil’s 55-Yard Interception Return

Sainristil did more than take possession away from New York.

His 55-yard return flipped the field, making the interception substantially more valuable. Long defensive returns shorten the distance the offense needs to travel and can directly change scoring probabilities.

4. Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s 96 Rushing Yards

Croskey-Merritt fell four yards short of a 100-yard game but was still Washington’s most productive runner.

His 96 yards represented about two-thirds of Washington’s total rushing production, and his 16-yard touchdown established a 10–0 lead early in the second quarter.

5. New York’s Late Defensive Pressure

The Giants did not simply fade once they fell behind.

Washington lost two fumbles, and New York’s defenders repeatedly created pressure and takeaway opportunities. Carter and Belton were central to that late disruption, while Burns recovered one fumble.

Those plays helped New York remain competitive, but Washington’s earlier scoring cushion proved too large to erase.

Special Teams and Turnovers Changed the Game

Jaylin Lane’s 63-Yard Punt Return

Lane’s touchdown is the clearest explanation for why Washington could finish with fewer offensive yards but more points.

A punt-return touchdown adds directly to the scoreboard while contributing nothing to a team’s offensive-yardage total.

In other words, the Commanders effectively generated an entire scoring drive without the offense taking the field.

Mike Sainristil’s Interception

Sainristil’s 55-yard return created similar hidden value.

The defensive return does not show up as passing or rushing offense, yet it dramatically improved Washington’s field position.

That is why a complete game analysis should separate offensive production from field-position and return value.

Giants Forced Late Fumbles

Washington lost two fumbles, including one by Mariota and one by Jeremy McNichols.

New York capitalized enough to remain within reach but could not fully turn those takeaways into a comeback.

This is a useful reminder that turnover count alone is incomplete. Where the turnover happens—and what the receiving team does afterward—matters just as much.

Receiving Efficiency Comparison

*Catch rate and yards per target are calculated from the official box-score totals.

The contrast is useful.

McLaurin and Johnson each converted 75% of their targets and averaged more than 17 yards per target. Robinson and Slayton received much greater target volume but generated lower efficiency per opportunity.

That does not automatically mean the lower-efficiency players performed poorly. Target depth, defensive coverage,e and game situation all affect receiving efficiency. It simply gives more context than reception totals alone.

Biggest Statistical Surprises From the Game

The first surprise is obvious: New York gained more total yards and still lost by eight points.

The second is Washington’s offensive passing efficiency. Mariota threw only 19 passes but produced 211 yards.

Third, Lane averaged 30.3 yards per punt return, mostly because of his 63-yard touchdown.

Fourth, Washington won despite committing 11 penalties for 67 yards and losing two fumbles.

Finally, the Giants nearly matched Washington on the ground. New York rushed for 146 yards compared with Washington’s 145. The result therefore was not driven by rushing dominance in the same way the teams’ Week 1 meeting had been.

How the Scoring Unfolded

• Read more: New York Giants vs Washington Commanders Match Player Stats

Washington never trailed. The Giants twice reduced the deficit to eight points, but Washington answered the first second-half challenge with McLaurin’s long touchdown.

Week 1 vs Week 15 Giants-Commanders Comparison

The two games had very different statistical stories.

In Week 1, Washington controlled the rushing game and held New York without a touchdown. In Week 15, the Giants scored three touchdowns and actually outgained Washington, but special teams, explosive plays, and field-position swings helped the Commanders win again.

That distinction matters because searching the same Giants-Commanders player-stat keyword can surface information from either meeting.

Unique Stat Insights Competitors Miss

Catch Rate

Catch rate adds context to reception totals.

For example, McLaurin caught three of four targets for a 75% catch rate, while Slayton caught four of 10 for 40%.

That does not replace traditional receiving stats, but it shows how efficiently targets became completions.

Yards per Target

Johnson produced about 18.0 yards per target, while McLaurin generated approximately 17.3.

Those numbers reflect the explosive nature of their receptions.

QB Combined Production

Using passing plus rushing yards:

• Dart: 309 combined yards
• Mariota: 254 combined yards

This is a custom comparison, not an official NFL statistic.

It reinforces the point that producing more yardage did not automatically mean controlling the most important moments.

Explosive-Play Contribution

Washington produced the three most influential return/scoring plays on this list.

Non-Offensive Scoring Share

Washington scored 29 points.

Lane’s punt-return touchdown accounted for six direct special-teams points, roughly 20.7% of Washington’s final total before considering the failed extra point separately.

That is a substantial contribution in an eight-point victory.

• Read more: New York Giants vs Washington Commanders Match Player Stats

What the Player Stats Reveal About the Game

The biggest takeaway is that this was not a simple story of Washington producing more offense.

New York actually generated more total net yards, more passing yards,s and one more rushing yard. Dart also produced more combined passing and rushing yardage than Mariota.

Washington won because it produced more value from its biggest plays.

Lane created a touchdown on special teams. Sainristil turned an interception into a 55-yard return. Croskey-Merritt gave the Commanders a reliable running option, and McLaurin delivered a 51-yard touchdown when New York had reduced the deficit to one score.

The Giants kept fighting and forced two Washington fumbles, but they spent most of the game trying to recover from Washington’s 22-point first half.

Final Takeaway

Washington’s 29–21 victory shows why total yardage should never be used by itself to judge an NFL game.

The Giants gained 384 total net yards to Washington’s 340, but the Commanders produced a special-teams touchdown, a long interception return, an efficient quarterback performance, and several explosive offensive gains.

For future Giants-Commanders matchups, watch more than the passing totals. Quarterback efficiency, return-game production, turnovers, explosive plays,s and how teams respond to short fields can provide a much clearer picture of who is actually controlling the game.

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