NFL games turn on single plays. Kickers face pressure every Sunday. One missed kick changes everything. The New York Giants learned that lesson in brutal fashion on October 19, 2025.
Sep 16, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; ESPN Monday Night Football broadcaster Jason Kelce on the set before game between Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Sep 16, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; ESPN Monday Night Football broadcaster Jason Kelce on the set before game between Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
What started as a dominant performance ended in heartbreak at Empower Field in Denver.
Jason Kelce Takes Shot At Kicker Jude McAtamney After Broncos Miracle Comeback
The Giants led 19-0 after three quarters. McAtamney missed his first extra point in the second quarter. The kick sailed wide left. Denver scored 33 fourth-quarter points. Bo Nix threw two touchdowns and ran for two more. The Giants still led 26-8 with under six minutes left.
Jaxson Dart scored with 37 seconds remaining. The touchdown gave New York a 32-30 lead. McAtamney’s extra point went wide right. Wil Lutz kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired. Denver won 33-32.
Social media exploded after the game. Retired Eagles center Jason Kelceposted on X, “Giants kicker is gonna have to fly home on Southwest”. He deleted the tweet shortly after it went viral.
#NFL “Giants Kicker gonna have to fly home on Southwest”: Jason Kelce stunned after Jude McAtamney’s missed kicks prove costly vs. Broncos https://t.co/GmVc9msUCP
— News and Sport from around the globe 🌎 (@NewsSportGlobe) October 20, 2025
Giants insider Wesley Steinbergreported that McAtamney approached head coach Brian Daboll to apologize but Daboll cut him off saying “I can’t even look at you right now, I’m sick just looking at you” and stormed off.
#Giants K Jude McAtamney went up to HC Brian Daboll to apologize but Daboll cut him off saying “I can’t even look at you right now, I’m sick just looking at you” and stormed off.
— Wesley Steinberg (@WesSteinberg) October 20, 2025
McAtamney took full responsibility in his postgame comments. “Got to make the kicks. I’m not going to shy away from that. I’ll take full responsibility,” he said. He added, “Honestly, when it came off my foot, I thought it was good. I went for it and when I looked up, it was wide right. I was as shocked as everyone else”.
Former Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, who won Super Bowl XLVI in 2012,wrote on X, “Hate being critical of kickers, and I love the International program, but McAtamney is not an NFL kicker”.
Hate being critical of kickers, and I love the International program but McAtamaney is not an NFL kicker.
— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) October 19, 2025
Head coach Brian Daboll said Monday the Giants would evaluate their kicking situation throughout the week. Veteran Younghoe Koo remains on the practice squad. The Giants visit Philadelphia on Sunday.
Bo Nix Makes NFL History in Fourth Quarter Comeback
Nix became the first player in NFL history to record two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in one quarter. The second-year quarterback accounted for all four Denver touchdowns in the final period.
Nix completed 27 of 50 pass attempts for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He added five carries for 48 yards and two more scores in the comeback win. Denver improved to 5-2 and sits atop the AFC West.
The 33 points tied for the second-most in a quarter in NFL history. Detroit scored 34 points in a quarter against Chicago on September 30, 2007. The Broncos’ win probability dropped to 0.7 percent with 6:38 remaining.
McAtamney joined the Giants in 2024 through the International Player Pathway Program. The Derry, Northern Ireland native played Gaelic football before switching to American football. He played college ball at Rutgers University. McAtamney stands 9-of-12 on extra points this season.