-- He wasn't the Pro Bowl defensive end he was during his 11 seasons in Miami, but Jason Taylor did make his Washington debut and extend his consecutive games streak to 131 on Thursday, returning to the field just two weeks after spraining his right knee.

"The fact that he suited up and went out there and competed tells me a lot about the man," said defensive coordinator Greg Blache. "I have all the respect in the world for him because that injury he had wasn't a light injury. I like this guy. He's a warrior."

Not that Taylor, who had just two tackles and lost contain on New York's only touchdown, one that gave the Giants the lead to stay, was satisfied by just playing.

"I'm not 100 percent, but I've played this game for 12 years and you're never really 100 percent," Taylor said. "I get up out of bed in January and March and I'm not 100 percent. The knee -- it is what it is. I got hurt and I'm trying to battle through it and give this team what I can. I'm not 100 percent and at some point maybe I will be, but I don't know when."

-- Many eyes were on Stephon Heyer, who had deposed longtime starter Jon Jansen at right tackle earlier in the week. Heyer was beaten by Justin Tuck for a sack on the opening play and he false-started two snaps later, but coach Jim Zorn pinned the first mistake on quarterback Jason Campbell for holding the ball too long.

"He was excellent for his first go although he had some communication problems," Zorn said of Heyer, a 2007 rookie free agent. "He missed some things, but overall, he was very aggressive ... and his pass protection was excellent.

-- Washington kept all 10 of its draft choices on its 53-man roster, but only four made their debuts at New York. Second-round receiver Malcolm Kelly (knee) and sixth-round safety Kareem Moore (hamstring) are hurt but sixth-round quarterback Colt Brennan, third-round offensive lineman Chad Rinehart, second-round tight end Fred Davis and seventh-round defensive end Rob Jackson were just scratched.

Second-round receiver Devin Thomas had one catch but came up a yard shy of the first down on third-and-6. Fourth-round cornerback Justin Tryon didn't make the stat sheet. Sixth-rounder Durant Brooks averaged 37.9 yards gross and 34.9 net on his seven punts and held for Shaun Suisham's extra point. Seventh-round safety Chris Horton shared a tackle on defense and had a solo stop on special teams.