It was a game the Giants needed to win to snap their winless skid and rejuvenate their playoff chances. It was a drive the Giants needed to complete with points, one way or another, if they wanted to expand the 7-3 lead they had on the Commanders late in the second quarter last Sunday night. It was a down and distance that no statistical measure would designate as having a high-percentage success rate.

The tension was mounting and a split-second decision needed to be made. Yet Brian Daboll admitted there really was not much in the way of hand-wringing when the moment of truth arrived.

“That fourth down that we went for there, that was already…we knew that we would go for that in that particular situation on Wednesday after the morning meeting I had with those guys,’’ Daboll said.

“Those guys’’ are Ty Siam, the Giants’ director of football data and innovation, and Cade Knox, the offensive assistant/game manager. Siam is part of general manager Joe Schoen’s front office and Knox is a member of Daboll’s coaching staff. Daboll credited them several times in the hours and days after the Giants exited FedEx Field with a 20-12 victory, greatly enhancing the team’s likelihood of getting into the postseason for the first time since 2016 — and for only the second time since 2011.