The Washington Commanders remain the NFL’s laughingstock after Sunday’s end-of-game debacle: quarterback Jayden Daniels was tackled in the field of play as the clock ran out, and Washington had no way to stop it, resulting in a 27-27 tie with the New York Giants. Had Daniels simply spiked the ball or thrown it out of bounds, Washington kicker Drew Stevens could’ve attempted a game-winning 42-yard field goal.
Head coach Dan Quinn took full responsibility for the gaffe. Daniels did too, sort of. Offensive coordinator David Blough also deserves a share of the blame, which ultimately points to an organizational failure. While the Commanders had many chances to put the game away, nothing was more egregious than their clock mismanagement in the final minute of overtime.
One longtime former NFL head coach — and Super Bowl champion — said he “threw up in my mouth a little bit" watching the final moments of Washington’s game against New York.
Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, now a studio analyst for NBC Sports and Football Night in America, broke down the final moments from his perspective.
“I’d describe it as disgusting,” Tomlin said. “You know, like, division wins are too precious in the National Football League. I was disgusted by the [Giants RB Cam] Skattebo fumble. I threw up in my mouth a little bit at the end of the game. It’s just tough. We’ll never know what happened. The head coach said what he was supposed to say. The quarterback said what he was supposed to say.”
Tomlin is referring to Cam Skattebo’s fumble deep in Washington territory, when the Giants only needed to secure the ball and kick the game-winning field goal.
While many talking heads laughed at the Commanders and Quinn, Tomlin didn’t. Not only are the two close friends, but Tomlin has also been in Quinn’s position, and he was happy he wasn’t the one dealing with the fallout from such an egregious mistake.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Former Super Bowl coach 'threw up in my mouth' watching Commanders' mistake