There were six lead changes and the last one Thursday night doomed the Giants in their 24-21 loss to the Commanders. The team that under John Harbaugh specialized in playing close and holding on played it close and did not hang on to a 21-17 fourth-quarter lead.
Here are a few thoughts from a soggy night at MetLife Stadium:
• Isn’t the idea of a Tush Push to, you know, actually push? That quarterback sneak by Jameis Winston on third-and-1 late in the fourth quarter was an unsightly mess.
Why was Patrick Ricard, the 300-pound fullback and a primary pusher in these situations, positioned out to the left, where he was not involved in any pushing whatsoever? Why did Cam Skattebo not react at all, deep in the backfield, never getting out of his stance as Winston all by himself tried to angle to his right to pick up the one yard needed to get the first down? Was Skattebo supposed to be a decoy? Did he simply forget his assignment on the play? Ricard instantly signaled for the first down and the initial call was a first down, until the Commanders challenged that ruling and, upon review, the call was reversed. There was 3:27 remaining and not picking up that first down was a critical failure.