NFL

Giants defense schooled by Redskins rookie

If it looked as if the Giants at times were tackling the wrong player in yesterday’s 27-23 victory over the Redskins, that’s because they were.

It was back to school for the Giants on defense dealing with Robert Griffin III, and what at times was a triple-option offense. The misdirection sometimes had the Giants chasing running back Alfred Morris — even though he didn’t have the ball — and other times the Giants pursued Griffin when Morris had the ball.

Total state of confusion? Sometimes, as the Redskins racked up 480 yards. But not always.

“That’s how you have to play that,’’ linebacker Chase Blackburn said. “If you watch the good college football teams that have to defend the veer and all the option stuff, you have to tackle the dive, tackle the quarterback and have someone play pitch, no matter who has the ball.

“Some college teams, when they defend teams like this in practice, they don’t even have a ball. They don’t care who has the ball. It’s all about defending the concept of the option.’’

* For the first time this season, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck all recorded sacks in the same game. It was the first sack of the season for Tuck.

“Finally,’’ Tuck said. “Osi and JPP have been killing me in the meeting room and calling me the old guy.’’ …

* Will facing Griffin for the first time help in the rematch on Dec. 3?

“The experience bodes well, knowing we can get to him, knowing we can frustrate him, that definitely bodes well for our football team,’’ said defensive tackle Chris Canty, who played for the first time this season. … The frantic final minutes? “It’s how we do it,’’ guard Chris Snee said. “Good for TV.’’

* Eli Manning was sacked late in the fourth quarter, the first time he has been sacked since Week 2 in Carolina. … Linebacker Keith Rivers started in place of Mathias Kiwanuka as the Giants tried to put as much speed as possible on the field. … Ahmad Bradshaw got into a heated exchange with coach Tom Coughlin at one juncture when the offense was changing personnel. “That’s between he and I,’’ Coughlin said.

* Stevie Brown, filling in for injured Kenny Phillips as the starting strong safety, notched his third interception of the season. “Stevie finds the ball or the ball finds him, one way or the other,’’ Coughlin said.

* The Redskins had to deal with a major loss in the first quarter, as tight end Fred Davis was forced out with a season-ending torn left Achilles. Davis came into the game leading the team in receptions with 24. … Indestructible Redskins middle linebacker London Fletcher missed the fourth quarter with a strained right hamstring.