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Tyrone Tracy Jr. fumble: Giants RB left in tears as costly OT turnover leads to loss vs. Panthers in Germany | Sporting News United Kingdom

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Tyrone Tracy Jr. fumble: Giants RB left in tears as costly OT turnover leads to loss vs. Panthers in Germany | Sporting News United Kingdom

The Giants are facing a long flight home from Munich to New York. Brian Daboll’s team came up short during its Germany game against the Panthers, falling 20-17 in overtime at Allianz Arena.

No one’s trip is going to feel nearly as lengthy as Tyrone Tracy Jr. 

The Giants running back coughed up the ball on the very first offensive play of overtime, giving possession to the Panthers deep in New York territory. After three run plays, Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro sank the short-yard field goal, lifting Carolina to a win.

With the loss, the Giants dropped to 2-8, the worst record in the NFL, and have now lost five consecutive games. 

Here is more on Tracy Jr.’s fumble.

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Tyrone Tracy Jr. fumble

The Giants fought back from down 10 points in the fourth quarter, using a Daniel Jones rushing touchdown and a Graham Gano field goal with five seconds left to tie the game at 17-17.

New York appeared to be in the driver’s seat for a victory, as Jones & Co. won the coin toss for overtime, giving them possession to start the extra frame. 

But disaster struck. On the very first play of overtime, Tracy Jr. took a handoff and attempted to get back to the line of scrimmage. However, Panthers defensive end A’Shawn Robinson was able to punch the ball out of the running back’s hands, and gained possession of the loose ball on the ground. 

Given how deep into Giants’ territory the field position was, the turnover immediately put the Panthers in a position to win the game. Since New York began the overtime frame with possession, all Carolina needed was a field goal. After three Cuba Hubbard runs, Pineiro came out and sank the 36-yard field goal right down the middle for the win. 

MORE: NFL referee Shawn Hochuli wows Munich crowd by giving penalty call in German

With the Panthers celebrated on the field, Tracy Jr. was seen with a towel over his head on the sidelines. Multiple teammates and members of the coaching staff came over to console the rookie after his first fumble in his NFL career.  

The fumble hurts even more considering Tracy Jr. was one of the few bright spots for the Giants in Germany. The fifth-round pick out of Purdue rushed for 103 yards on 18 carries, and he also got New York on the board in the third quarter with a 32-yard rushing touchdown. 

After the game, Daboll did not get into details specifically about the Tracy Jr. fumble, however, he did point out the three Giants turnovers to the one for the Panthers as a difference in the game. 

That was a tough one, tough game,” Daboll said after the loss. “Tough way to end the game.

“…The game really came down to a few plays. We had three turnovers, two in the red zone. They had one turnover. Turn the ball over three times and only get it once, it’s hard to win in this league.”

Wide receiver Malik Nabers said he went to talk to Tracy Jr. after the game, attempting to lift his spirits after the costly fumble. 

I went over to him because I know that feeling,” Nabers said. “You don’t kick a man when he’s already down. He knows what he did. That feeling is not a good feeling that you have to carry over into the week, until it’s time to play the next game.

“I told him, ‘that play doesn’t define you.’ That one play doesn’t lose us the game.”

Tracy Jr. will have to wait longer to redeem himself. The Giants have a bye in Week 11, and return to action in Week 12 against the Buccaneers. 

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