Winston and Giants rally for 27-27 tie in Washington

Jameis Winston’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Malik Nabers with 1:43 left Sunday, October 11, pulled the New York Giants even with the Washington Commanders, and the game finished 27-27 in overtime at Northwest Stadium.

A comeback without a finish

Winston completed 33 of 54 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns, repeatedly finding an answer after Washington built a 27-13 lead. His touchdown pass for 17 yards to Nabers capped the late rally, with Nabers finishing with 11 catches for 121 yards and the tying score.

The Giants moved from 3-1 to 3-1-1, while the Commanders moved to 1-3-1. Washington led 12-3 at halftime, stretched its advantage to 14 points in the fourth quarter, then watched New York score the final 14 points of regulation.

Jayden Daniels supplied the force behind Washington’s early control. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards and ran nine times for 103 yards and two touchdowns, including a 38-yard scramble that made it 19-6 in the third quarter and a 26-yard scoring run that pushed the Commanders ahead 27-13.

The plays that held the line

Washington opened with a four-play, 69-yard drive in 1:54, capped by a 33-yard touchdown run, but could not turn its lead into a finish. After a Giants field goal made it 12-6, Daniels’ 38-yard run gave the Commanders room before Winston led New York back with a short touchdown pass late in the third.

The reversal came in the fourth. A review changed what initially appeared to be a Washington recovery near the goal line into a 17-yard Giants touchdown reception, cutting the margin to 27-20. After Washington’s next possession stalled, Winston guided a 10-play, 72-yard series in 3:13 and found Nabers for the tying touchdown.

New York’s final overtime chance ended when Cam Skattebo fumbled at the Washington 24 with 2:00 remaining. The recovery swung Washington’s win probability from 11% to 53%, but the Commanders did not produce the score that would end it.

The numbers showed two offenses taking different routes to the same result. Washington posted 0.07 EPA per play — expected points added on each snap — driven by a 0.26 rushing EPA per play, while New York threw effectively at 0.08 passing EPA per play despite finishing at minus-0.06 overall. Washington took no turnovers, but its offense was sacked five times; New York turned it over twice.

The Giants next host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 18, at 3-1-1. The Commanders, 1-3-1, visit the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, October 19.