Not that the Giants needed it, but Sunday was a reminder that the only thing that matters is what you do once the regular season begins.

And once again it started with a loss.

The Giants never found the end zone in a 21-6 road loss to the Commanders, erasing a preseason in which Big Blue scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games for the first time in franchise history. It was not the offensive debut they imagined for their new-look quarterback room, which featured 10-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson making his 200^th regular-season start.

"Credit to Washington. They played a good game," coach Brian Daboll said. "I thought there were times we did some good things, but obviously not enough. Offensively, six points, it's tough to win a game. Didn't feel like we got into much of a rhythm, particularly on early downs on the offensive side of it. Then we left 11 points out there in the red zone. I thought defensively, we battled. We hit a lot of our keys. We had the big one there at the end, but we have to do a better job on the offensive side of the football. Players, coaches, everybody. Then the kicking game, I thought we did some good things there, but again, certainly not good enough. Tough game. Good week we had and give them a lot of credit. Just bottom line was not good enough."

THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN…

Deebo Samuel Sr., the versatile receiver who was traded from San Francisco to Washington this offseason, took a reverse handoff and shed a few tacklers before diving at the front-left pylon for a 19-yard touchdown. The Commanders took a 21-6 lead with 7:09 left in the game, and then on the ensuing possession, stopped the Giants at the goal line for a turnover on downs. Jacory Croskey-Merritt left no doubt with a 42-yard run as Washington could then run out the clock.

STAT OF THE GAME

The Giants' first scoring drive of the season spanned 16 plays, 76 yards and more than eight minutes – but resulted in only a short field goal.

"We had three bad plays in a row down there, and we had a long drive, and I went for it," Daboll said. "We got the penalty and got to go again, and didn't want to come away with no points, like it happened toward the end of the game. But we've got to be better in the red zone. That's why I elected to go for three to get some points on the board."

Overall, the Giants were unable to find the end zone on two trips inside the 20 while the Commanders were successful on three of four red zone drives.

"I think the game was simple in the sense that we didn't convert in the red zone," Wilson said. "We had two chances down in the red zone to make it a close game, a really close game. The game was close all the way throughout the whole game, really, to be honest with you. I thought our defense did a good job battling. I thought, for us, when we get down to the red zone and the ball is on the one or two yard line, we got to score. They stopped us; they played well. We got back down there again, and then they stopped us again. I think that changes the complexion of the game tremendously."

QUOTABLE

"Don't make it two [losses], simple as that. There's no need for rah rah. We got the players and we got each other, and that's all we need." - defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence on mindset after the game

FIRST ROUND FIRSTS

Outside linebacker Abdul Carter, the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, recorded a half-sack in his NFL debut. He also partially blocked tipped a 31-yard punt by two-time Pro Bowler Tress Way. Fellow rookie Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall selection, served as Wilson's primary backup. Veteran Jameis Wilson was designated as the emergency third quarterback for Sunday.

INJURY REPORT

Linebacker Micah McFadden (leg/foot) was carted off midway through the first quarter while surrounded by teammates. He was replaced by Darius Muasau, who started seven of 15 games as a rookie last season.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas (rehabbing back from a 2024 season-ending foot injury) was ruled out after being listed as doubtful heading into Sunday's game. James Hudson III, a veteran signed over the offseason, played in his place as he had done all offseason.

INACTIVES

NYG: OT Andrew Thomas (foot), S Beau Brade, OL Evan Neal, TE Thomas Fidone II, DL Darius Alexander, QB Jameis Winston (emergency 3rd QB)

WAS: RB Chris Rodriguez, ILB Ale Kaho, MLB Kain Medrano, OT Trenton Scott, OT George Fant, DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste, QB Josh Johnson (emergency 3rd QB)

WHAT THE LOSS MEANS FOR THE GIANTS

The Giants, who started 0-1 for the third consecutive season, will look to avoid the 0-2 hole. And so will the Cowboys. The Giants head to Dallas in Week 2 for the second leg of back-to-back road games in the NFC East to open the season. The Cowboys dropped their opener to the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles on Thursday night.

"Well, it's a new season, but it does hurt," Daboll said. "You got a good [training] camp, felt good about coming into this game against a really good football team, and it does hurt. There's no question about that. So, we got to pick up, move on, learn from it, and obviously not good enough. Get ready to play Dallas, who've had a little bit of a couple of days off here, and focus on that. But focus on the things that we have to do better, all of us, and be ready to play a better game, collective game, complementary game."

WHAT THE WIN MEANS FOR THE COMMANDERS

In the encore to their first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991, the Commanders start with a victory but will turn around quickly for a Thursday night game in Green Bay.