EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants' passing game was basically nonexistent in the first half Sunday against the Washington Commanders, to the point that quarterback Daniel Jones became the first player since at least 1978 to throw a touchdown while recording 0 passing yards in a half (minimum five pass attempts).
Jones' numbers at halftime of the Giants' 27-22 loss at MetLife Stadium: 4-of-6 for 0 yards with a touchdown and a fumble lost.
The Giants were running the ball effectively in the first half, but they also didn't throw the ball downfield at all -- or even try -- while the Commanders built a 21-7 lead. Coach Brian Daboll said it was the game plan and it did not indicate a lack of confidence in his struggling quarterback.
Before his first-half score, Jones had gone 672 days since his previous touchdown pass at MetLife Stadium.
"We were averaging 7 yards running the ball. We felt comfortable," Daboll said of the Giants' first-half approach. "That was the plan coming into the game. We wanted to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage. It has nothing to do with Daniel throwing it or not throwing it."
The Giants ran for 142 yards on 21 carries in the first half (6.8 yards per carry). Jones contributed 50 yards rushing on five carries. Rookie Tyrone Tracy had 10 carries for 50 yards.
"We were going to run it until they stopped us," guard Jon Runyan Jr. said. "They did not stop us at all."
Still, the Giants managed only seven points by halftime, and they turned to the passing game in the second half. Jones went 16-of-20 for 174 yards with a touchdown in the second half. He also ran for a 2-yard score.
"I knew we wanted to run the ball in this game, that was part of the game plan. I think the way it played out, maybe didn't expect to run it that much," Jones said. "But we were running it really well and effectively moving the ball, controlling the line of scrimmage, and [Daboll] obviously felt that was working for us, and it was. So, we stuck with it and I thought it was pretty good."
Seven of the Giants' first eight offensive plays in the game were runs. Four straight had gone for 10 or more yards. Then they tried to call a screen pass. Left tackle Chris Hubbard was beaten badly and Jones was hit while trying to throw. He fumbled and it was ruled a recovery by the Commanders, much to the Giants' dismay because the whistle was blown during the play.
Washington scored four plays later to make it 7-0.
"We were productive running the ball. [We had] like 7 yards a carry, so we kept doing that," Daboll said. "We had the one touchdown on a play-action pass on the goal line. We threw two screens. But we were productive moving the football. We turned the ball over on the one screen. So that was part of the plan. I thought the guys did a good job of executing, being physical at the line of scrimmage and controlling the line of scrimmage. That was the reason."
The Giants (2-7) fell to 0-4 against the NFC East. Washington completed the season sweep vs. New York for the first time since 2011.
Daboll has preached for weeks the importance of explosive plays. The Giants were getting them in the run game in the first half. They had seven runs of 10 or more yards.
But they didn't attempt a single pass over 20 air yards. It was almost exclusively screens, quick-hitters and a slant.
"Obviously we would have liked to get passes, but if the running game is working, I'm here to win," wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson said. "So if that is going to help us win, no problem."
Ultimately, it didn't on Sunday. The Giants lost their fourth straight game overall and fell to 0-5 at home.
Jones & Co. came into the game against Washington with just one touchdown at home in four games. They scored three touchdowns Sunday.
Still, this latest approach of run, run, run early didn't work in the end. The final result was much of the same.
"I don't call the plays, so I mean, I don't know," rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers said. "When you run the clock out in the first half, you're scratching in the second half to try to score points, as many as possible. As an offense, you've got to be versatile. You've got to be able to run. You've got to be able to pass. You can't pick between half and half what you want to do. But like I said, I'm not the playcaller."
ESPN Research contributed to this report.