Washington’s dramatic 24-21 win over the New York Giants has kept the Commanders’ hopes of winning the NFC East alive. Analyst John Breech believes the result could put Washington in position to make a run at the division title, even though the team still trails New York in the standings.
“I think the Commanders positioned themselves really well for possibly stealing this division title,” Breech said Friday morning.
The prediction is an ambitious one. The Giants currently have the better record, and Washington has plenty of ground to make up. But Thursday night’s win gave the Commanders an important result in the division race—and a chance to keep building on it.
## Thursday’s win gave Washington a tiebreaker advantage
The victory was especially significant because it improved Washington’s head-to-head position against New York. The teams tied in their Week 5 meeting, and the Commanders’ Thursday win gives them an advantage if the two clubs finish the regular season with identical records.
That detail could matter later in the season, when division standings are decided by tiebreakers. Washington still needs to improve its record, but beating the Giants gives the team a more favorable position if the clubs end up level.
Breech also suggested that the Dallas Cowboys could finish behind both Washington and New York. In his view, if the Giants and Commanders each reach eight wins, Dallas would need nine victories to finish ahead of them.
A loss on Thursday would have made Washington’s path considerably more difficult. The Commanders would have been four games behind the Giants, leaving them with a much steeper climb in the division race. Instead, they came away with a comeback win that keeps the possibility of catching New York open.
## Daniels and Diggs deliver a late-game comeback
Washington’s victory came after a tense finish. Quarterback Jayden Daniels threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter, but he responded when the Commanders needed a decisive drive.
With 57 seconds remaining, Daniels connected with Stefon Diggs for a 32-yard touchdown. The score completed Washington’s comeback and secured the 24-21 result.
Diggs’ late touchdown was a defining moment in the game, while Daniels’ ability to respond after the interceptions gave Washington a chance to win in the closing seconds. The result also meant the Commanders left MetLife Stadium with more than a narrow victory: they gained a valuable division result and maintained a path to compete for the NFC East.
## The Commanders still have a difficult climb
Despite the win, Washington remains behind New York. The Commanders are 3-5-1, while the Giants stand at 5-3-1. Washington must make up that difference over the remaining schedule if it is to overtake its division rival.
The victory does not guarantee a turnaround or a division title. It does, however, prevent the gap from growing and gives the Commanders a useful head-to-head advantage should the teams finish with the same record. Breech’s forecast depends on Washington continuing to win and on the standings developing in a way that keeps the division race within reach.
The next opportunity comes in Week 11, when Washington hosts the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. A strong performance would give the Commanders a chance to build momentum after their win over New York.
Breech’s prediction may seem surprising given the teams’ current records, but Thursday’s comeback changed the outlook for Washington. The Commanders still have substantial work ahead, yet their victory kept their NFC East hopes alive and gave them a reason to believe they can remain part of the division conversation.
