# Dan Quinn accepts blame after Commanders let overtime clock expire against Giants

Washington reached the New York 24 without timeouts but ran another play instead of stopping the clock, ending the game in a 27-27 tie.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / NFL
Published: 2026-10-18T11:49:53.229Z
Updated: 2026-10-18T11:49:53.229Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/dan-quinn-commanders-overtime-clock-error-28de2b1
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/f2e41e35ff023e6b3fa3fbf84f100260.jpg (Head coach Dan Quinn in a 2017 photograph; credit: Elizabeth Fraser for U.S. Army on behalf of Arlington National Cemetery / Wikimedia Commons (public domain))

## Summary
- Washington and New York tied 27-27.
- The Commanders let the overtime clock expire at the Giants’ 24-yard line.
- Coach Dan Quinn accepted responsibility for the decision.

## A tie defined by the final seconds

The Washington Commanders and New York Giants finished tied 27-27 after Washington allowed the overtime clock to expire in field-goal range. The Commanders reached the Giants’ 24-yard line without timeouts but ran another offensive play instead of immediately stopping the clock. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was sacked, and time expired before the field-goal unit could attempt a potential winner. [1](https://apnews.com/article/commanders-analysis-overtime-giants-dan-quinn-5c765ec39ea0f4078205fa4cf52c7989) [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/10/12/buck-stops-with-dan-quinn-after-commanders-overtime-debacle/)

## Why the sequence failed

Washington needed to preserve enough time either to spike the ball or bring the kicking team onto the field. By calling a live play, the Commanders accepted the risk that Daniels could be tackled in bounds. That is exactly what happened. With no timeout available, players and coaches could not reorganize before the clock reached zero, leaving a makeable field-goal opportunity unused. [1](https://apnews.com/article/commanders-analysis-overtime-giants-dan-quinn-5c765ec39ea0f4078205fa4cf52c7989) [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/10/12/buck-stops-with-dan-quinn-after-commanders-overtime-debacle/)

## Quinn takes responsibility

Coach Dan Quinn said the mistake belonged to him and did not shift responsibility to Daniels or the sideline staff. The Associated Press and Washington Post both reported his acceptance of blame. That response clarifies accountability but does not change the standings: Washington moved to 1-3-1, a record made more painful because the team had advanced into a position to win. [1](https://apnews.com/article/commanders-analysis-overtime-giants-dan-quinn-5c765ec39ea0f4078205fa4cf52c7989) [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/10/12/buck-stops-with-dan-quinn-after-commanders-overtime-debacle/)

## A preventable execution error

The play will be studied as a clock-management failure because the relevant conditions were visible before the snap: no timeouts, field-goal range and very little time. The Commanders did not lose, but a tie cost them the chance to convert a late drive into a victory. Future improvement depends on making the end-of-game instruction unambiguous before players reach the line, particularly when a sack or completion in bounds can end the contest. [1](https://apnews.com/article/commanders-analysis-overtime-giants-dan-quinn-5c765ec39ea0f4078205fa4cf52c7989) [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/10/12/buck-stops-with-dan-quinn-after-commanders-overtime-debacle/)

## Reporting sources
1. [Associated Press: Commanders analysis: overtime debacle falls on Dan Quinn](https://apnews.com/article/commanders-analysis-overtime-giants-dan-quinn-5c765ec39ea0f4078205fa4cf52c7989) (October 12, 2026)
2. [The Washington Post: The buck stops with Dan Quinn after Commanders overtime debacle](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/10/12/buck-stops-with-dan-quinn-after-commanders-overtime-debacle/) (October 12, 2026)