Post-game quotebook: What the Giants were saying after defeating Washington

What were the New York Giants saying after Sunday’s 23-20 victory over the Washington Football Team? Let’s go to the Zoom calls to find out.

Coach Joe Judge on holding on for a victory ...

“The whole message was finish. Yeah, that’s a thing you could constantly hear a player saying over and over and over. We talked about that before the game, at halftime, throughout the game and on the sideline. We have to finish the game. When we took the field, number of times in that fourth quarter, the message was finish. The players were ready for. We responded to whatever came our way. Washington made some plays down the stretch, but we were able to come up with some big turnovers in key situations. You kind of get in players like Logan [Ryan] and Blake [Martinez] to make some plays for you down the stretch, and they came through for us.”

Judge on facing the division-leading Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday ...

“Throw the record away, it’s irrelevant. It’s going to be a big game for us no matter who we play, especially with Philadelphia coming in. The record is completely irrelevant this game, Jordan. Look we’re just trying to go 1-0 every week. I’m not posting in front of my team what the record is for the season to be completely honest here right now. That’s the last thing we should care about. We have to worry about day by day and week by week making constant improvement as a team and moving in the right direction. I see that, I’m pleased with that. I love the way these guys come to work. I love the way they fight for each other on Sundays. But I don’t care what the record is on any year. The fact that we’re playing Philadelphia is a division game, it’s obviously a big game for us.”

Leonard Williams on contending in the NFC East despite being 2-7 ...

“Realistically, we’re a few points away from having a winning record. Our record doesn’t show the type of talent and the team we have. I think Coach Judge has turned this place around and is doing a great job. I’ve been on teams where we’ve had a one-win record by now and you could feel the energy of the team start to drop. I feel like that hasn’t happened once, and I think it’s because we’re in these tight games. We’re in these tight games with playoff teams. The Steelers are undefeated, the Buccaneers, and a bunch of other teams where we’ve been in tight games. I think that’s the reason why no one is hanging their heads and giving up, because we’re right there. We just got to keep working hard and we’ll get over the hump.

“I think, like I said, the fact that we’re getting close in some of these games with top teams in the league right now is one of the reasons why we’re not hanging our head, and then also the fact that our division is so open and everything is right there in front of us still. Guys are just not hanging their head down, we still have a lot to fight for and you can really feel the energy. Like, I’m not just saying it just to make it a good answer, you can feel guys working hard every single day. Guys are coming up to each other having their own individual meetings when coaches are not around. It just seems like everybody is on top of their stuff right now and that’s what I like to see.”

Williams on his improved play this season ...

“It’s not about money for me, it’s not about anything like that. I think about this game and my love for the game. It’s more about respect and proving who I am and gaining respect from my peers. I think it’s all coming together at the same time. I have a lot of guys on the defense to thank for it. Our secondary players help me get to the quarterback when they make them hold the ball. Overall, our defense is playing pretty well, and it’s helping me flourish.”

Daniel Jones on holding on to the ball on the late-game sack he took ...

“I think that that’s been a focus of mine and you obviously know the importance of hold on the ball and the defense did a great job today coming up with five turnovers and on offense, we’re able to protect it today and that was a you know a big advantage for us. Those are big plays in the game and I’ve got to do a good job of holding onto the ball.”

Evan Engram on his up and down day ...

“With the touchdown, I was just trying to make a play for the team and for Daniel [Jones]. We got the look we wanted on that type of play, I just had to execute and finish the play. DJ threw a great ball and I just had to finish it. The drops, you know, you don’t want those but you just have to keep pushing through it. Luckily, we were able to overcome the adversity today and finish with the win.”

Jabrill Peppers on the defense securing the victory ...

“It’s always good when you close it out on defense. The game shouldn’t have been that close to begin with, we had a lot of bonehead plays that put us in that position. But at the end of the day, a W is a W, they all go in the same column. Just going to keep building off this, correct the tape tomorrow, and get ready for a big showdown against Philly.”

Peppers on the Kyle Allen injury ...

“You never want that to happen. We all have a pact in this league. Guys have come from different circumstances, guys have worked hard to get here, so you never want to see a guy go down like that. I prayed for him, I apologized to him. I definitely didn’t intend for that to happen. I’m trying to play hard and make a play for my team. I’m still praying for him, and I wish him a speedy recovery.

“Everything happened so fast. I tried to bullrush the running back, but he got under me a little bit. I tried to spin out of it, it was a weird play. I didn’t intentionally try to leg whip him or whatever the penalty was. I was trying to play hard and get him on the ground.”