Cam Skattebo fumbles in overtime as Commanders clock gaffe seals 27-27 tie
Key takeaways
- The Giants and Commanders tied 27-27 on Oct. 11 in rainy Landover. Both teams wasted late chances to win, Reuters reported.
- Cam Skattebo lost his fourth fumble in five games deep in overtime. Then Washington let the clock expire in field goal range.
- Coach Dan Quinn said he was "furious" about the ending. He took the blame himself and faces the 49ers next.
Cam Skattebo fumbled away a win chance in overtime. The New York Giants tied the Washington Commanders 27-27 on Sunday, October 11. Both teams made costly mistakes late in the game. Washington let the clock run out in field goal range.
What happened
The Giants fought back from a 27-13 fourth-quarter hole. Jameis Winston threw two late touchdown passes to force overtime, Reuters reported. The first was a 17-yard score to Isaiah Likely on fourth-and-8 with 7:20 left.
The second was a 17-yard touchdown to Malik Nabers with 1:43 remaining.
In overtime, the Giants drove deep into Washington territory. Then Skattebo dropped the ball at the Commanders' 23-yard line with 1:55 left. Washington recovered the fumble.
A fumble happens when a player carrying the ball drops it. The other team can pick it up and keep it.
Overtime is extra time played when the score is tied. It gives both teams a chance to win. Here is how NFL overtime rules work in simple terms.
With new life, Jayden Daniels drove the Commanders down the field. He broke off a 16-yard scramble to reach the Giants' 24-yard line. Washington had no timeouts left.
Running back Rachaad White gained two yards with 55 seconds on the clock. The Commanders then changed players and ran another play.
That is where it went wrong. The ball was snapped with 12 seconds left. Daniels ran up the middle for no gain.
Washington could not line up in time to stop the clock. Time expired, and the game ended in a 27-27 tie.
The team was lined up for a 42-yard winning field goal, The Post reported. It never happened.
The Skattebo fumbles
Skattebo's fumble was his fourth in five games. It was the first one his team lost. It was the Giants' second fumble of the game.
It was their ninth of the season, The Post reported.
The young running back took the blame after the game. He said the tie was "a sigh of relief" for him. He said he "messed up a play" and that it hurts.
The Giants knew ball security was a worry for Skattebo. Losing the ball deep in overtime is the worst time for a fumble. The play handed Washington the ball and a clear path to win.
The clock debacle
The Commanders' ending was just as bad. Coach Dan Quinn slammed his headset into the ground after the game, USA Today reported. He was still angry a day later.
"Furious about our execution in the crucial moments of the game," Quinn said.
Clock management means using the game clock smartly in the final seconds. A team with no timeouts must stop the clock by throwing the ball away. It can also spike the ball, which means throwing it into the ground on purpose.
Washington did neither in time. Offensive coordinator David Blough called the play and changed the players on the field. That wasted precious seconds.
Quinn said the play call was not the problem. "It was a breakdown. It can't happen," he said.
Four kicks were missed during the game, according to NBC Sports. Washington wanted to get closer before kicking. Quinn later admitted they should have stopped the clock much sooner.
"It starts with me first off, no doubt about it," Quinn said. He also spoke with team owner Josh Harris after the game. Quinn said Harris was not pleased, but he feels comfortable about his job for now.
Minority owner Magic Johnson posted his anger on social media, USA Today reported. The post sparked talk about Quinn's future. But Quinn said he speaks with Harris after every game, win or lose.
Why it matters
The tie hurts the Commanders more. They fell to 1-3-1 after blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead. The coaching chaos and missed kicks raise real questions.
Washington now faces the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
For the Giants, the tie felt almost like a win. They moved to 3-1-1 and stretched their NFC East lead to 1.5 games. The Giants trailed by 14 in the final eight minutes and still did not lose.
No Giants team had done that in 231 tries since 1970. The Post reported the stat, citing ESPN.
But Skattebo's fumbles are a growing problem. Four fumbles in five games will cost the team sooner or later. The Giants need him to hold the ball better in big moments.
The game also showed that Jayden Daniels is back. He missed two games with a dislocated left elbow. He went 17 of 25 for 199 yards passing, Reuters reported.
He also ran for 103 yards and two scores.
Overtime ties are rare in the NFL. Tyler Huntley's overtime win for Baltimore found a winner last week. This game found only mistakes.
What happens next
The Commanders visit San Francisco for Monday Night Football. A loss there could put Quinn's job in real danger, NBC Sports noted. Washington then has a bye in Week 7.
The Giants build on their division lead from here. They face a key stretch with Skattebo's ball security under the microscope. Winston keeps playing well after 326 yards and three scores in this game.
Both teams now know what went wrong. Washington must fix its clock management before the 49ers game. New York must fix its fumbles before they cost a real win.
The next few weeks will show which team learned more.
Related stories
Why Is Altitude Sickness Worse for Some People?
Altitude sickness hits some people harder because of genetics, ascent speed, and prior history, not fitness level. Here is what raises risk
Why Do You Get Blisters When Hiking and How to Prevent Them
Friction plus moisture plus heat equals a blister. Learn why hiking breeds all three, and the boots, socks, and tape system that keeps
How to choose hiking boots for beginners: fit, features, and break-in
Beginners should buy for fit first: snug everywhere, tight nowhere, with a thumb's width at the toes. Here is how to size, test,