Giants and Commanders Battle to 27-27 Tie at Northwest Stadium

LANDOVER, Md. — The Washington Commanders and New York Giants played to a 27-27 tie on Sunday at Northwest Stadium, a result that left both teams searching for answers after Washington squandered a chance to win in the final seconds.

Giants backup quarterback Jameis Winston threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, leading New York back from a 14-point deficit. The comeback overshadowed the Giants debut of J.J. McCarthy, who was acquired two weeks ago in a trade with the Vikings to provide depth while starter Jaxson Dart is out. McCarthy played just five snaps, rushing twice for 2 yards and throwing two passes that were wiped out by penalties — a jet sweep and a bubble screen, with no attempts downfield.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh defended the approach to rotating quarterbacks. “I think we’ll grow,” he said. “We’re in a situation where it’s by any means necessary. Sometimes it’s going to work. Most of the time, it’s going to work — we hope, if we’re going to get where we want to go — and sometimes it’s not. We had a chance in a couple of those to make big plays.”

Winston, whose performance strengthened his hold on the starting job for now, said he’s open to whatever role the coaching staff wants from him. “The coaches get paid a lot of money to make decisions,” Winston said. “I had a chance to play with one of the best [RPO quarterbacks] of all time in Taysom Hill. So, whatever is required for this [team] to win, I am for that.”

For the Commanders, the tie stung in part because of how it ended. With 11 seconds left, head coach Dan Quinn opted to run another play rather than attempt what could have been a game-winning 42-yard field goal, and the clock ran out before Washington could capitalize.

“I don’t need to put him in that spot at all,” Quinn said of the decision. “We don’t need to gain more. Let’s go win it right there.”

Quinn was also the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons when they blew a 25-point lead in Super Bowl 51.

The result leaves the Giants at 3-1-1 on the season, though the team still has not notched a true road victory. New York was routed by the Rams in Inglewood, Calif., in Week 2 and was unable to close out either a win or a loss in its first NFC East road test at Northwest Stadium.

“It’s hard to come on the road and win,” Giants nose tackle DJ Reader said. “People got pride, their families are watching. We came on the road, and we got beat pretty bad last time. We got a tie this time. Next time we got to go get a ‘dub.'”

Harbaugh, in his first trip to face an NFC East opponent, praised the traveling Giants fans who filled sections of Northwest Stadium. “Wow, I mean our fans were loud,” he said. “At the end of the game, especially, it was really something to see. Really proud of our fans.”