Devin Thomas had a definite goal yesterday in his Giants debut, going against a Redskins team that gave up on him after three unproductive years.
“Make them look at the film and say, ‘Man, why did they let him go?’ ” Thomas said after the 31-7 Giants victory.
That’s a legit question after the way Thomas performed for his new team. Thomas made an impact on special teams. He started out with a strong tackle to limit Terrence Austin to a 15-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. Thomas came up big early in the second quarter, downing Matt Dodge’s 53-yard punt on the Washington 5-yard line. For his final act, Thomas in the fourth quarter blocked a Hunter Smith punt, giving the Giants the ball on the Redskins 13-yard line.
“I told Devin after the plays he made, ‘How in the world did we get you?’ ” Justin Tuck said.
Thomas was a 2008 second-round draft pick of the Redskins but never developed as a receiver. He was released earlier this season, hooked on with the Panthers, released and signed Nov. 24 by the receiver-depleted Giants. He took great delight in showing his former team he’s got something to offer.
“Things are so positive around here and we’re really pushing to go for these playoffs,” Thomas said. “I never really had that before. Things have always been dismal and just like a grey cloud in D.C.”
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The Giants did not allow a sack for the fifth consecutive game, a franchise record. . . . RB Brandon Jacobs
(8-103) broke the 100-yard rushing barrier for the first time in more than two years — Nov. 9, 2008 against the Eagles, to be exact. . . . The Giants have now won five straight and eight of their last nine games vs. the Redskins. . . . WR Derek Hagan
, clearly more comfortable with the offense, led the Giants with seven catches for 65 yards, picking up the slack as Mario Manningham
(2-36) was often double-covered. “I’m glad he threw the ball my way,” Hagan said of Eli Manning
.
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Will Beatty
in his second start at left tackle was called for three penalties, two of which were accepted. One was a hold on LB Brian Orakpo
when Beatty all-but tackled him. . . . The Giants had four rushing touchdowns for the first time since Oct. 31, 2004, when Tiki Barber
and Mike Cloud
both had two rushing TDs in Minnesota.
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The Giants forced six turnovers but safety Deon Grant
should have had two more. He dropped what should have been an interception in the second quarter and somehow managed not to recover Donovan McNabb
‘s fumble off Osi Umenyiora
‘s sack and strip in the third quarter. . . . The touchdown on the opening possession was the first for the Giants in 14 games dating back to last season. . . . DJ Ware
took the opening kickoff back 37 yards, the longest kickoff return of the season for the Giants.