Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants: 2015 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-09-24, the New York Giants took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 32–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 29 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Cousins (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with +5.95 total EPA, and +0.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, E. Manning (New York Giants) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.45 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-12.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Washington Commanders changed the game: (8:42) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 88-P.Garcon INTERCEPTED by 20-P.Amukamara [59-D.Kennard] at WAS 20. 20-P.Amukamara to WAS 14 for 6 yards (89-D.Carrier).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 E. Manning · New York Giants · Passing · +16.45 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Randle · New York Giants · Receiving · +13.36 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.91 EPA/play
3. 3 O.Beckham Jr. · New York Giants · Receiving · +6.30 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Cousins · Washington Commanders · Passing · +5.95 total EPA · 56 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Reed · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +5.35 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Crowder · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +3.87 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Grant · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.76 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Thompson · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.51 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New York Giants — A. Williams (Q1 51:39)
• New York Giants — O. Beckham (E. Manning pass) (Q4 13:46)
• Washington Commanders — C. Thompson (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 3:44)
• New York Giants — R. Randle (E. Manning pass) (Q4 3:29)
• Washington Commanders — R. Ross (Q4 3:21)

Field goals

• New York Giants — J. Brown (Q1 45:43)
• Washington Commanders — D. Hopkins (Q2 41:36)
• New York Giants — J. Brown (Q2 37:36)
• Washington Commanders — D. Hopkins (Q2 31:48)
• New York Giants — J. Brown (Q3 22:34)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: New York Giants won the period 12–0. New York Giants registered a safety from the NYG 83 (Q1 57:53) — (12:53) 5-T.Way punt is BLOCKED by 23-R.Jennings, Center-57-N.Sundberg, ball out of bounds in End Zone, SAFETY.; New York Giants found the end zone from the WAS 1 (Q1 51:39) — (6:39) 44-A.Williams left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q1 51:34) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.; New York Giants connected on a field goal from the WAS 17 (Q1 45:43) — (:43) 3-J.Brown 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing..

The second quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 6–3. Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the NYG 26 (Q2 41:36) — (11:36) 3-D.Hopkins 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.; New York Giants connected on a field goal from the WAS 18 (Q2 37:36) — (7:36) 3-J.Brown 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the NYG 19 (Q2 31:48) — (1:48) 3-D.Hopkins 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way..

The third quarter: New York Giants won the period 3–0. New York Giants connected on a field goal from the WAS 30 (Q3 22:34) — (7:34) 3-J.Brown 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing..

The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 15–14. New York Giants found the end zone from the WAS 30 (Q4 13:46) — (13:46) (No Huddle) 10-E.Manning pass deep middle to 13-O.Beckham Jr. for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 13:39) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the NYG 4 (Q4 3:44) — (3:44) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 25-C.Thompson for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders registered a safety from the NYG 2 (Q4 3:40) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-K.Cousins pass to 80-J.Crowder is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; New York Giants found the end zone from the WAS 41 (Q4 3:29) — (3:29) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep right to 82-R.Randle for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 3:21) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the NYG 35 (Q4 3:21) — 3-J.Brown kicks 66 yards from NYG 35 to WAS -1. 19-R.Ross for 101 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q4 3:08) — 3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Washington Commanders (Q1 53:42) — (8:42) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 88-P.Garcon INTERCEPTED by 20-P.Amukamara [59-D.Kennard] at WAS 20. 20-P.Amukamara to WAS 14 for 6 yards (89-D.Carrier). [WPA -12.0% · EPA -4.17]
• New York Giants (Q1 54:10) — (9:10) 9-B.Wing punts 37 yards to WAS 12, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, fair catch by 80-J.Crowder. PENALTY on WAS-59-T.Plummer, Offensive Holding, 6 yards, enforced at WAS 12. [WPA -5.3% · EPA +0.23]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 33:09) — (3:09) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 88-P.Garcon to NYG 20 for 19 yards (20-P.Amukamara, 22-B.Meriweather). [WPA +4.4% · EPA +2.04]
• Washington Commanders (Q3 18:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right intended for 89-D.Carrier INTERCEPTED by 47-U.Unga (59-D.Kennard) at NYG 27. 47-U.Unga to NYG 27 for no gain (46-A.Morris). WAS-76-M.Moses was injured dur [WPA -4.3% · EPA -5.01]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 41:36) — (11:36) 3-D.Hopkins 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way. [WPA +4.1% · EPA +0.95]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Washington Commanders (Q4 3:21) — 3-J.Brown kicks 66 yards from NYG 35 to WAS -1. 19-R.Ross for 101 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.5% · EPA +6.15]
• New York Giants (Q4 3:29) — (3:29) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep right to 82-R.Randle for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.6% · EPA +5.84]
• Washington Commanders (Q3 18:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right intended for 89-D.Carrier INTERCEPTED by 47-U.Unga (59-D.Kennard) at NYG 27. 47-U.Unga to NYG 27 for no gain (46-A.Morris). WAS-76-M.Moses was injured dur [WPA -4.3% · EPA -5.01]
• Washington Commanders (Q4 9:42) — (9:42) 31-M.Jones left end to NYG 2 for 5 yards (31-T.Wade). FUMBLES (31-T.Wade), ball out of bounds in End Zone, Touchback. [WPA -1.3% · EPA -4.53]

Quarterback report card

K.Cousins led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Cousins (Washington Commanders) · 56 dropbacks · 53.6% completion · +0.1% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +5.95 total EPA
• E.Manning (New York Giants) · 35 dropbacks · 65.7% completion · +7.1% CPOE · +0.47 EPA/play · +16.45 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

New York Giants held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.17 vs +0.05), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• New York Giants: 10 drives, +14.10 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 11 drives, +4.85 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New York Giants leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• E. Manning (New York Giants) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• E. Manning (NYG) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New York Giants Safety (+2) — Q1 57:53 · NYG 83 · Score 0-2
   (12:53) 5-T.Way punt is BLOCKED by 23-R.Jennings, Center-57-N.Sundberg, ball out of bounds in End Zone, SAFETY.
2. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q1 51:39 · WAS 1 · Score 0-8
   (6:39) 44-A.Williams left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q1 51:34 · WAS 15 · Score 0-9
   3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
4. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q1 45:43 · WAS 17 · Score 0-12
   (:43) 3-J.Brown 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
5. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 41:36 · NYG 26 · Score 3-12
   (11:36) 3-D.Hopkins 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.
6. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q2 37:36 · WAS 18 · Score 3-15
   (7:36) 3-J.Brown 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
7. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 31:48 · NYG 19 · Score 6-15
   (1:48) 3-D.Hopkins 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.
8. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q3 22:34 · WAS 30 · Score 6-18
   (7:34) 3-J.Brown 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
9. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 13:46 · WAS 30 · Score 6-24
   (13:46) (No Huddle) 10-E.Manning pass deep middle to 13-O.Beckham Jr. for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 13:39 · WAS 15 · Score 6-25
    3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
11. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 3:44 · NYG 4 · Score 12-25
    (3:44) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 25-C.Thompson for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Washington Commanders Safety (+2) — Q4 3:40 · NYG 2 · Score 14-25
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-K.Cousins pass to 80-J.Crowder is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
13. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 3:29 · WAS 41 · Score 14-31
    (3:29) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep right to 82-R.Randle for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 3:21 · WAS 15 · Score 14-32
    3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
15. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 3:21 · NYG 35 · Score 20-32
    3-J.Brown kicks 66 yards from NYG 35 to WAS -1. 19-R.Ross for 101 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q4 3:08 · NYG 15 · Score 21-32
    3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.