Joe Judge wanted to live to see Sunday’s second half. That’s why the head coach said he called consecutive quarterback sneaks in victory formation while backed up against the Giants’ goal line in the second quarter.

His inept offense had surrendered a safety in Chicago the week prior, part of an avalanche of eight Bears points before halftime of a laugher.

After watching Jake Fromm dribble a pass at the feet of wide open fullback Eli Penny on 1st down from the 3, Judge had seen enough.

Freddie Kitchens’ plan for the drive was abandoned for a more conservative strategy.

“We were backed up,” Judge said. “Had a shot at the play-action to get the ball out in the flat. We’ve got to make the throw and hit the guy right there. Eli was open there.

“Ultimately, we were backed up, I wanted to get room,” the coach continued. “We were going to push it forward. I wasn’t going to live through what happened last week in Chicago, so we’re going to give ourselves room for the punt. We did that. We held them on the next drive.”

Judge’s decision to run the play a second time on 3rd and 9 from the Giants’ 4-yard line was widely ridiculed on social media. Quarterback Jake Fromm was asked if he thought the Giants had a chance of picking up a first down with those calls.

“Potentially, but that wasn’t my call to make,” he said. “I was just trying to make sure the 11 guys in the huddle knew what they were doing and going ahead and executing.”

Judge said he made the decision to rely on his better two sides of the ball.

“I think it shows faith in the fact that I knew we were going to cover the kick and then play defense right there,” he said. “In that situation, that’s how I wanted to play.”

BRONX CHEER

Extra offensive tackle Korey Cunningham was the unexpected inspiration for several Bronx cheers from the disgusted MetLife Stadium crowd Sunday. Cunningham was penalized in the second quarter for lining up as eligible when he wasn’t. So every time he declared himself eligible after, the crowd mockingly cheered.

They were the loudest cheers of the afternoon prior to Fromm’s TD pass. The Giants even sent Cunningham out on a seam route upfield in the fourth quarter, but Washington’s deep safety had it covered.

ON GUARD

Right guard Will Hernandez admirably tried to gut out Sunday’s finale with a chance to play 100% of the Giants’ offensive snaps this season, but his ankle didn’t cooperate. Hernandez, who came in questionable with an ankle injury, lasted seven snaps before limping off.

Hernandez’s Giants career is likely over. The 2018 second-round pick hasn’t performed. But he showed great character by competing to remain a starter and persevering as a great teammate.

He played 1,048 consecutive snaps through 16-plus games before getting hurt. No Giant was able to play 100% of the offensive or defensive snaps this season like center Nick Gates did last year.

HALF-A—

The Giants finished the season being outscored 79-0 in the final two minutes of first halves. Joey Slye’s 43-yard field goal for Washington made sure of it as the clock hit zeroes on Sunday’s second quarter. The trajectory of this season’s futility: outscored 42-0 the first six games, 3-0 the next five games, and 34-0 the final six.

TONEY CHECKS OUT

The Giants’ three inactives were WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder), WR John Ross (knee) and QB Mike Glennon (left wrist). The inactive Toney was among the last players to arrive pregame. He was the only player on the pregame sideline not wearing team issued gear. And he was the first player seen leaving after the game … Returner Pharoh Cooper was not elevated from the practice squad after his disastrous Week 17 kickoff mistake that led to a safety in Chicago. Alex Bachman returned kicks in his stead.