http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/26/sports/football/new-york-giants-washington-redskins.html 2016-09-26 00:35:54 ‘Desperate’ Redskins Take Risks and Beat Giants Eli Manning threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, and the Giants’ defense faltered, squandering a chance to bury their rivals deeper in the N.F.C. East standings. === EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It was never going to be easy. The Giants’ defense knew it. They knew it when the linebacker Keegan Robinson stood during a meeting Friday morning to remind his teammates that the winless “It’s like a trap game,” Robinson told them. “This team is desperate.” But with an opportunity to bury their rivals deeper in the N.F.C. East division, at home on a crisp and sunny afternoon, the Giants’ defense did not heed its own warnings, falling, 29-27, at MetLife Stadium in An emotional and entertaining back-and-forth game ended, essentially, on an interception by the Redskins’ safety Su’a Cravens at the Giants’ 43-yard line as they began a comeback drive in the final two minutes. Washington’s defense picked off The Redskins took risks, most notably on fourth and 12 late in the third quarter when the punter, Tress Way, lobbed a pass instead of a kick down the sideline and connected with Quincy Dunbar for a 31-yard gain. That play, which ultimately yielded a field goal, nonetheless illustrated Washington’s aggressive offense. When the Giants scored on a 75-yard drive in the second quarter to take a 21-9 lead, the Redskins fired right back, in two plays, both deep passes to DeSean Jackson, bang, bang. 21-16. It was that kind of day. Throughout a spirited, chippy contest, it seemed as though any play could spark a melee. The animus between the Redskins’ cornerback Josh Norman and Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., which boiled over last season, simmered more quietly Sunday. But though their rematch never amounted to much, Giants’ center Weston Richburg was ejected in the fourth quarter for his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which he received when taunting Norman. The Giants took early advantage of a sloppy first half from Washington, beginning on the opening possession when the punt returner, Quincy Dunbar, dropped the catch and the Giants recovered on the Redskins’ 28-yard line. Three plays later, running back Shane Vereen scored from a yard out to put the Giants on the board. There were mental miscues by Washington, too. With only six seconds before halftime, the Redskins faced third down with four yards to go for the end zone, but they still had one timeout. Quarterback Kirk Cousins rolled to his left to find space for a quick throw. He did not see the defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul until it was too late, and the 278-pound end was already upon him. His hit jarred the ball loose from Cousins’ grasp, and though Cousins collected the fumble quickly, time expired on the clock before he was able to signal to the referees to stop the clock. The Redskins pleaded with the officials while the Giants skipped off to the locker room, celebrating what seemed like a turning point. But the defense, which had largely carried the Giants to its first two victories, was a different story. Cousins (296 yards, two touchdowns) needed a big game, and he delivered against a Giants secondary that was reminiscent of its sieve-like 2015 performance. With 9 minutes 45 seconds left in the third quarter, Jamison Crowder took a screen pass on third down and ran it 55 yards for a touchdown to give Washington its first lead, 23-21. The Giants went back ahead, 24-23, on a 29-yard field goal by Josh Brown with 6 minutes 29 seconds left in the third. But the Redskins jumped back ahead with a field goal early in the fourth after the punt fake. A few minutes later, Eli Manning led the offense into the red zone, thanks again to the breathtaking abilities of Beckham, whose two catches brought the Giants to the 20-yard line. A pass by Manning in the end zone, though, was intercepted by Dunbar with 13 minutes 42 seconds left. With Washington leading, 29-27, with 1 minute 51 seconds left, the Giants had two timeouts with which to drive the length of the field. Looking for Vereen over the middle, however, Manning was intercepted again.