LANDOVER, Md. — This was how the New York Giants played when they were starting 5-0, back when they looked like a solid Super Bowl contender.

The dominant version of the Giants showed itself again last night, only this time as a desperate team clinging to its playoff hopes.

The Giants controlled every facet of the game in a 45-12 rout that wasn't as close as even that margin of victory would indicate, embarrassing a Washington Redskins coach and team that failed miserably in an attempt to make a good first impression for its new general manager.

"We felt we can play at that caliber that we were playing at the beginning of the year," said Ahmad Bradshaw, who ran for two first-half touchdowns. "We came out fired up. This was a must-win."

The Giants (8-6) don't control their destiny, but they moved one game behind Dallas and Green Bay in the race for wild-card spots with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

In theory, the Redskins (4-10) should have had a great purpose — a desire to put on a good show for Bruce Allen, hired Thursday in a major front office shake-up.

"You've got a new boss to impress," cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "This is an audition. These last couple of games is an audition. Bruce Allen pretty much got a head start on evaluating talent. If he looks at what he saw today, he'll scrap this whole thing."

Eli Manning played seven possessions before taking an early seat in the fourth quarter. New York scored on six of them. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns.

The Giants led 24-0 at halftime. At one point in the second quarter, they held a 226 to minus-2 advantage in total yards and a 16-0 dominance in first downs.

N.Y. GIANTS 7 17 14 7—45

WASHINGTON 0 0 12 0—12

First Quarter

NYG—Bradshaw 3 run (Tynes kick), 5:47.

Second Quarter

NYG—Bradshaw 4 run (Tynes kick), 14:21.

NYG—FG Tynes 38, 8:05.

NYG—Smith 6 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 4:36.

Third Quarter

Was—Davis 11 pass from Campbell (kick failed), 10:30.

NYG—Hagan 23 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 6:21.

NYG—Thomas 14 interception return (Tynes kick), 6:07.

Was—Ganther 1 run (run failed), :09.

Fourth Quarter

NYG—Manningham 25 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 12:48.

A—78,359.

NYG Was

First downs 23 15

Total Net Yards 387 302

Rushes-yards 30-114 17-89

Passing 273 213

Punt Returns 2-24 2-6

Kickoff Returns 2-30 8-119

Interceptions Ret. 3-87 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 22-30-0 17-33-3

Sacked-Yards Lost 2-22 5-36

Punts 2-37.0 4-42.8

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 3-15 6-52

Time of Possession 34:15 25:45

RUSHING—N.Y. Giants, Bradshaw 9-61, Jacobs 16-52, G.Johnson 2-4, Nicks 1-(minus 1), Carr 2-(minus 2). Washington, Campbell 2-36, Mason 4-25, Ganther 10-21, Cartwright 1-7.

PASSING—N.Y. Giants, Manning 19-26-0-268, Carr 3-4-0-27. Washington, Campbell 15-28-2-192, Collins 2-4-0-57, Smith 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING—N.Y. Giants, Smith 5-40, Boss 3-57, Manningham 3-44, Bradshaw 3-29, Nicks 2-66, Hixon 2-21, Hagan 1-23, Pascoe 1-9, Beckum 1-4, Jacobs 1-2. Washington, Davis 5-65, Moss 3-55, Randle El 3-25, Mason 2-25, Ganther 2-19, Cartwright 1-51, Kelly 1-9.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.