East Windsor — With their 14-7 victory over the Commanders on Sunday, the Giants failed to rescue their season. However, they maintained it on life support because any other result would have meant this was a death notice.

Ugly? Yes. offensively contradictory? Absolutely. Nevertheless, they will gladly accept a victory after finding only one other in their first seven attempts. They will be hoping that this is the start of a streak of favorable events for them.

And who knows—maybe it will turn out to be the case.

because there will be more help. The timetable is relaxing. If a run is going to take place, the time is now.

Keeping them stacked is our goal, according to safety Xavier McKinney.

To build upon, you need a base. The Giants appear to be doing that, at the very least. Josh Allen, the star quarterback for the Bills, was tormented by Wink Martindale’s defense last week. Sam Howell and Washington received the same treatment in full.

The Giants were as dominant as you would anticipate from a team that gave up only seven points. Howell had been fired 34 times before joining MetLife. As Martindale dialed up 25 total unconventional blitzes to confound the second-year passer, New York increased that number to 40. Dexter Lawrence led all Giants with two sacks, followed by the other four.

One of just three times Washington entered the Giants’ red zone, their lone touchdown came when Sterling Shepard botched a punt and gave them the ball at their own 21. On one other occasion, Leonard Williams stopped a 26-yard field goal attempt, and on the Commanders’ final offensive possession, Howell’s fourth-down pass to Curtis Samuel was incomplete.

The Commanders were put into clear passing situations by the Giants’ elimination of the run, which allowed them to tee off on Howell, who completed 22 of his 42 passes (52.4 percent) for 249 yards and an interception. Chris Rodriguez had 31 of the Commanders’ total 76 yards on the ground. They only obtained 14 first downs and converted one of fifteen third downs.

This Giants’ defense is beginning to find itself after a slow start. It’s a group, right now, you can win with. They want to be one you can win because of.

“I think that’s the defense we’re turning into,” said linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, who had 1.5 sacks against Washington. “Being able to start off hot, start off fast and carry that momentum.”

There were good feelings a plenty as Giants coaches and ownership departed the press box for the bowels of MetLife Stadium, hooting and hollering on the elevator down. It’s clear the win and defensive dominance distracted many, for the time being, from the deterioration of the offense in the second half.

That needs to change if the Giants truly want to make any semblance of a run.

The first half looked like that had happened. The Tyrod Taylor-led Giants scored their first two touchdowns (Darren Waller, Saquon Barkley) since the loss to the 49ers way back on Sept. 21. They picked up 11 first downs and 256 yards, but in the second half they regressed.

Their four possessions in the third and fourth quarters resulted in three punts and a Barkley fumble near the goal line. They picked up just five first downs — four on the possession that ended with a turnover and netted only 105 yards. They lacked aggressiveness and their patchwork offensive line showed its holes, allowing four sacks.

This game should have had a start-the-busses feel before the fourth quarter began. Instead, the Commanders had a chance late because of the offense’s resurgent ineptitude.

“There are always turning points in a season,” said Taylor, who finished 18-of-29 for 279 yards with the two scores. “Hopefully this is a turning point.”

The Giants should get help on that side of the ball. Quarterback Daniel Jones and tackle Andrew Thomas are expected to return against the Jets. The Giants should also get back John Michael Schmitz and Evan Neal soon, too.

That should stabilize the offense — bring forth more consistency. If competence then follows? This wouldn’t be the first time a Giants season turned with a defensive stop against Washington.

You can’t make more of this Giants victory than what it is, they beat a bad Washington team and didn’t look particularly good in doing it. Because of this there’s a chance (maybe a good one) that this simply delayed the inevitable.

A Giants loss to the Jets next week will simultaneously fire up the mock draft simulators. But because the they beat Washington, those are only potential topics, conversations not had for at least seven days.