Jayden Daniels Leads Commanders Past Giants 25 to 13

Jayden Daniels delivered a decisive rushing performance for the Washington Commanders against the New York Giants on Sunday, October 11, 2026, helping Washington establish a 25-13 lead in their Week 5 NFL matchup at Northwest Stadium. Daniels scored twice on the ground, demonstrating his mobility after returning from a left elbow injury.

According to NBC Sports, Daniels broke through for a 38-yard touchdown in the third quarter, extending Washington's advantage to 19-6 with 7:47 remaining in the period. The score capped a 77-yard drive that also included a 17-yard completion to wide receiver Antonio Williams and a nine-yard run by Daniels.

Daniels had completed 7 of 12 passes for 102 yards and rushed seven times for 61 yards at that stage of the game, NBC Sports reported. His 38-yard scoring run was the longest rushing touchdown of his NFL career.

The quarterback's second rushing touchdown further increased Washington's advantage to 25-13, according to NFL.com. His ability to gain significant yardage on the ground remained a major factor in the Commanders' offensive production against New York.

Daniels entered the matchup after missing time because of a dislocated left elbow suffered in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. The injury affected the same elbow he had hurt during Week 14 of the previous season, when he subsequently missed Washington's final four games, including a meeting with the Giants.

Before Sunday's game, Daniels had established a strong record against New York. According to Sports Illustrated, he had completed 70.4% of his passes for an average of 222.7 passing yards per game and three touchdowns across three previous meetings with the Giants.

Washington's offensive line also entered Week 5 ranked third in pass-block win rate, providing an important foundation for the returning quarterback. The Giants had been expected to apply pressure and use Abdul Carter's speed to limit Daniels' ability to escape the pocket.

New York entered the contest with a 3-1 record after securing two hard-fought victories, according to Sports Illustrated. The Giants needed a stronger offensive response to narrow the deficit as the game progressed.

Quarterback Jameis Winston connected with tight end Isaiah Likely for a 17-yard touchdown, according to NFL.com. The scoring play provided an offensive highlight for New York as the Giants attempted to challenge Washington's lead.

Wide receiver Malik Nabers was another key matchup for New York entering the game. Sports Illustrated reported that he had recorded 24 receptions for 257 yards and one touchdown across three previous games against Washington, with at least 11 targets in each contest.

The Commanders' secondary had struggled against opposing passing attacks entering Week 5, while Washington had used blitzes on 49.3% of defensive plays, the second-highest rate in the NFL, according to Sports Illustrated. Those factors shaped the pregame outlook for Nabers and the Giants' passing offense.