1) Fortunate fumble. The Giants managed a field goal on their first possession of the game, but the Redskins quickly responded, threatening from the New York 28. On second-and-2, Robert Griffin III broke off a 12-yard run before fumbling (forced by safety Stevie Brown) right into the hands of Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan, who took it in for a touchdown.
2) Tynes tacks on before halftime. Trading field goal for field goal and touchdown for touchdown, the Giants and Redskins were knotted at 10-10 with less than a minute remaining in the first half. The Giants were not content, and Eli Manning marched them down the field, quickly hitting Rueben Randle for 13 yards and Martellus Bennett for another 28. That set up a 40-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal for a three-point advantage for the Giants, who were set to receive the second half kickoff. However, a holding penalty on the return forced the Giants to begin at their own nine, and they were unable to extend the lead.
3) Garcon touchdown. For all the rushing yards given up, the Giants defense had yet to suffer any real damage in the first three quarters, aside from a field goal and a bizarre fumble returned for a touchdown. However, that changed right away in the fourth quarter. Running to his right, Griffin found Pierre Garcon, who hadn't played in the first game of the series, in the end zone for a touchdown. Garcon had 106 of Griffin's 163 passing yards and put the Redskins ahead 17-16 with 11:31 to play.
4) Ninth penalty the costliest. A team known for its ability to come-from-behind with the game in the balance, the Giants had more than enough time when the offense got the ball back with six minutes to play and a one-point deficit. On third-and-10 at the New York 43, Manning hooked up with Bennett for a first down. However, the play was called back by a holding penalty on Will Beatty, setting up a third-and-20. The Giants were unable to convert and punted to the Redskins. New York would never get the ball back.
5) Morris runs out clock. After the punt, the Redskins took over on their own 27 with 3:51 remaining in the game. With two timeouts left, the Giants needed a stop. Griffin took the first play for an eight-yard run, which was followed by five runs and a 17-yard completion to Garcon. The backbreaker came on third-and-3 from the New York 35, where Alfred Morris notched the final six of his 124-yard night on the ground with 1:07 remaining. With the first down, the Redskins were able to kneel for the 17-16 victory.
