Harbaugh Explains Controversial Play Involving Skattebo in Giants Loss

WHO:

Pro Football Network - Giants head coach John Harbaugh explained running back Cam Skattebo’s assignment during a failed quarterback sneak against Washington.

NBC Sports - Harbaugh defended Skattebo after Skattebo remained in his stance during Jameis Winston’s quarterback sneak.

NBC Sports - Harbaugh’s comments were reported via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.

NY Post - Cam Skattebo was described as apparently forgetting that pushing is a key element of a tush push.

WHAT:

NBC Sports - Harbaugh said the play was a quarterback sneak, not a tush push, and Skattebo was not supposed to push Winston.

NBC Sports - Harbaugh said: “We had a certain check involved in it, so he wasn’t supposed to be up there pushing. We didn’t call the same [QB sneak] that we’ve been calling.”

NBC Sports - Harbaugh added: “What else am I supposed to say? He wasn’t supposed to be up there pushing.”

NBC Sports - The Giants had a 21-17 lead late in the fourth quarter, were stopped on the sneak, then lost 24-21.

NY Post - The failed play was described as a bizarre moment that loomed large in the Giants’ loss.

WHERE:

Pro Football Network - The game was against Washington.

NBC Sports - The Giants’ opponent was the Commanders.

WHY:

NBC Sports - Harbaugh said a “certain check” was involved, so Skattebo was not supposed to be positioned to push Winston.

NBC Sports - The reason the Giants did not want Skattebo pushing Winston to gain the first-down yardage was unclear in the article.

HOW:

NBC Sports - The Giants used a quarterback-sneak call different from the one they had been calling; Skattebo was not assigned to push Winston.

Pro Football Network - The failed quarterback sneak drew scrutiny during the Giants’ loss to Washington.

Giants coach John Harbaugh defended Cam Skattebo after a failed quarterback sneak against Washington. Harbaugh said Skattebo wasn’t supposed to push quarterback Jameis Winston on that play. The Giants led late, failed to convert, and ultimately lost to Washington, 24 to 21.