The Redskins opened the season on Monday Night Football against the team that had caused them the most trouble in recent years, the New York Giants.

Early in the game, it looked like more of the same as New York opened up a 14-3 halftime lead behind two Phil Simms TD passes. Washington made a move to make it closer in the third quarter, scoring a TD on a long pass from Rypien to Ricky Sanders.

The Giants answered with another TD early in the fourth quarter, re-extending their lead to 21-10. But the Skins stormed back in the middle of the fourth, scoring on a Monk TD catch and an interception return to take their first lead at 24-21. New York quickly tied the game again at 24, and it looked like the game was headed into overtime. But the Giants Raul Allegre hit a long FG as time ran out, dropping Washington to 0-1.