Washington – After a 27-27 overtime tie against the New York Giants, quarterback Jayden Daniels stepped forward to own the Commanders’ clock‑management mistake that cost the team a chance at a game‑winning field goal.
Daniels takes the blame
With the Commanders positioned at the Giants’ 24‑yard line and only seconds remaining, Daniels snapped the ball with 12 seconds left on a play meant for a quick sideline throw. Instead, he tucked the ball and was tackled for no gain, leaving eight seconds on the clock. The team attempted to spike the ball but could not get another snap off before time expired.
“We have to stop the clock. We have to know the situation,” Daniels said. “It starts with everyone, top down. Ultimately, you know, it’s on me.”
Coach Quinn shares responsibility
Head coach Dan Quinn also acknowledged the error, noting that the Commanders should have simply stopped the clock rather than chasing additional yardage. “Leaving tonight with a tie feels like a loss,” Quinn said. “The right call was honestly to clock it early and not put ourselves in that spot. That is my responsibility, nobody else’s.”
What led to the missed opportunity
The missed chance followed a defensive play in which lineman Daron Payne forced Giants running back Cam Skattebo to fumble at Washington’s 23‑yard line. Daniels then helped move the ball 53 yards into field‑goal range, including a 16‑yard scramble.
Despite the setback, Daniels posted a solid individual performance, completing 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards and adding 103 rushing yards with two touchdowns. His efforts helped the Commanders build a 27‑13 lead in the fourth quarter before the Giants rallied.
Looking ahead
Washington improves to 1‑3‑1 with the tie and will travel to face the San Francisco 49ers next Monday night. Daniels, who missed two games earlier in the season after dislocating his left (non‑throwing) elbow, emphasized the need for better situational football moving forward.
“We just got to be better at situational football,” Daniels added.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
