Giants and Commanders game ends in 20-20 tie
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The Washington Commanders and the New York Giants’ all-important Week 13 game ended in a 20-20 tie as New York kicker Graham Gano’s last-second field goal fell short.
The Giants led 20-13 late in the fourth quarter when Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke engineered an eight-play, 90-yard drive in one minute and 58 seconds that ended with a 28-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson to tie the game at 20.
Heinicke’s big fourth-down completion to wide receiver Curtis Samuel kept the drive — and Washington’s hopes — alive. A few plays later, Heincke finds Dotson, who puts an incredible spin move on the defender to find the end zone.
The Giants had another shot, but New York quarterback Daniel Jones had three consecutive incompletions, two on deep routes, giving the Commanders one more chance in regulation.
Washington punt returner Alex Erickson returned the punt 12 yards to the Giants 36-yard line, but rookie safety Percy Butler was called for unnecessary roughness, moving the ball back to the Washington 12-yard line.
Heinicke had three straight completions to move the ball to the New York 36. The Commanders call a timeout with 39 seconds remaining. However, after the timeout, Heinicke forces two balls to McLaurin that were incomplete, and on third down, a pass to Cam Sims fell incomplete. Punter Tress Way came into the game to punt, and the Giants kneeled the ball for overtime.
New York won the toss and began overtime on offense. The Giants completed an 11-yard pass to Darius Slayton on first down, but the Commanders dropped Saquan Barkley for a three-yard loss on the next play. Jones scrambles for eight yards on second down, leading to another third down.
Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne dropped Jones on third down, giving Heinicke and the offense a chance to win the game.
After a 21-yard Curtis Samuel run, the Commanders had a first-and-10 from the New York 44-yard line.
That’s where everything fell apart.
On the next play, offensive coordinator Scott Turner calls for a Brian Robinson Jr. run, and he picks up three yards. On second down, he calls the same play, and this time Robinson is dropped for a three-yard loss. On third down, Turner calls for a safe play, in which Heinicke finds Samuel for a one-yard gain.
Washington punts.
The defense did its job again, and the offense would get another opportunity. Somehow, on first down, no one blocks Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, who sacks Heinicke at the two-yard line.
Two plays later, the Commanders facing a third-and-10 from the 10-yard line choose to run instead of attempting a pass. Predictably, it’s stopped and leads to another punt.
The Giants get Gano in position for a long field goal, but it fell short, and we have our second tie of the NFL season.
Heinicke completed 27 of 41 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, while Jones completed 25 of 31 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. Jones hurt Washington with his legs in the first half, but the Commanders adjusted and shut him down in the second half.
Washington outgained New York 411-316 and largely stopped the Giants’ running game in the second half and in overtime after New York ran for over 100 yards in the first half.
Washington moves to 7-5-1, while the Giants are 7-4-1 and the teams meet again in two weeks. The Commanders are off next week, and the Giants host the first-place Philadelphia Eagles.
