Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP

Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw celebrates his second-quarter touchdown against the Redskins on Monday.

The Giants marched downfield at will to take a 24-0 halftime lead. At one point in the second quarter, they held a 226 to minus-2 advantage in total yards, a 16-0 dominance in first downs, and the time of possession gap was roughly 21 minutes to 4½. The Redskins went three-and-out on their first three possessions, finally got a first down on the fourth, then tried to pull a ridiculous-looking fake field goal on the fifth — a play that produced a Giants interception to end the half.

Even when the Redskins scored their first touchdown — with the game already out of reach in the third quarter — the Giants blocked the extra point.

The Giants defense, with its habit of giving up big plays, had largely been the culprit as the team lost six of eight games to waste the 5-0 start. The unit was stout, however, against the Redskins — even with defensive backs Corey Webster and Aaron Ross inactive with injuries.

“They came out ready, and played awesome,” Manning said. “They kept giving us the ball and we kept going down and scoring. We just set the mood for the night very early.”

Terrell Thomas got his fifth interception of the season and turned it into his first NFL touchdown with a 14-yard runback. Osi Umenyiora temporarily forced Jason Campbell out of the game late in the first half with one of five sacks by five players. Campbell sprained a shoulder on the play but returned to start the second half.

Bradshaw had touchdown runs of 3 and 4 yards and was greeted both times with snowballs thrown from the stands. The Redskins had to remove an estimated 25 million pounds of snow from the stadium and their parking lots just so the game could be played two days after a historic East Coast storm.

The Giants took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 16 plays. The second drive was 63 yards in 11 plays.

The holes were there even though the offensive line was a patchwork job. Right tackle Kareem McKenzie missed the game with a left knee injury, so rookie Will Beatty got the start. Left guard Rich Seubert limped off with a right knee injury after Bradshaw’s first touchdown run; he was replaced by Kevin Boothe.

“We ascended tonight,” Coughlin said, “and we have to continue to do that.”

Notes: The Giants converted their first seven third-down plays and went 11 for 15 for the game. ... Injuries: New York WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring), Washington WR Devin Thomas (sprained ankle).

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 3 games JETS 31, DOLPHINS 23: Edwards returns to makes key TD catch  |    Highlights COWBOYS 27, TEXANS 13: Dallas avoids rare 0-3 start  |    Romo excited FALCONS 27, SAINTS 24, OT: Champs miss short FG in OT  |    Saints explain loss TITANS 29, GIANTS 10: Johnson scores 2 TDs  |    Coughlin takes blame EAGLES 28, JAGUARS 3: Vick makes Reid's decision look great  |    QB thrilled COLTS 27, BRONCOS 13: Manning throws 3 TD passes VIKINGS 24, LIONS 10: Peterson's career-long 80-yard TD keys win PATRIOTS 38, BILLS 30: 14th straight win in series for New England SEAHAWKS 27, CHARGERS 20: Washington has two kickoff returns for TDs CHIEFS 31, 49ERS 10: K.C. 3-0 for first time since '03  |    Chiefs confident STEELERS 38, BUCCANEERS 13: Batch shines in first start in 3 years RAMS 30, REDSKINS 16: Only second win in last 29 games for St. Louis RAVENS 24, BROWNS 17: Flacco fires 3 TD passes BENGALS 20, PANTHERS 7: Clausen struggles in first NFL start CARDINALS 24, RAIDERS 23: Janikowski misses 32-yard FG on final play

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