The New York Giants fired coach Brian Daboll on Monday, and interim head coach Mike Kafka put former Hueytown High School star Jameis Winston in the starting lineup at quarterback on Sunday with rookie Jaxson Dart sidelined by a concussion.
Winston didn’t deliver an upset victory for the 2-9 Giants against the Green Bay Packers. But New York was in the game to the end before succumbing 27-20.
“I was so grateful,” Winston said after his 88th NFL start and first action of the 2025 season. “I really wanted to win for these guys, man. How we dominated the line of scrimmage, we ran the ball effectively. We did some good things in the passing game. Kaf did an incredible job calling this game. I really wanted to win this one for us.”
Winston completed 19-of-29 passes for 201 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and ran for 10 yards and one touchdown on three carries.
Winston started his season by completing 3-of-4 passes for 44 yards as the Giants moved 65 yards in nine plays for a touchdown on the game’s opening series.
Winston had a 20-yard completion and a 10-yard run on third-down snaps during an 11-play, 68-yard touchdown drive as New York tied the score at 13-13 with 1:11 left in the first half.
The Giants took a 20-19 lead on a 15-play, 85-yard drive that Winston ended with a 1-yard touchdown dive with 7:22 remaining. Winston had completions of 20 and 14 yards on third-down snaps and a 13-yard completion on a fourth-down snap during the series.
After Green Bay responded with a touchdown and 2-point conversion to take a 27-20 lead with 4:02 left, Winston guided the Giants from their 35-yard line to the Green Bay 14. But his third-down throw from there was intercepted in the end zone by safety Evan Williams with 36 seconds to play.
“Jameis had an aggressive mindset all day,” Kafka said. “I think he’s trying to give his guy a chance right there at the end in the end zone to go score a touchdown.”
Winston was among the 32 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the 11th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
Two other former state players were involved in the Green Bay-New York game:
Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) started at cornerback for the Giants. Flott made three tackles, broke up one pass and forced one fumble, which Green Bay recovered.
Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) was designated as a game-day inactive. A toe injury kept Nunez-Roches out of the lineup.
In the other Sunday games:
Miami Dolphins 16, Washington Commanders 13 (OT)
Commanders running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt (Sidney Lanier, Alabama State) ran for 28 yards on nine carries and caught a 5-yard pass.
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) started at safety for the Commanders. Reaves made seven tackles.
Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Dolphins offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible play.
Carolina Panthers 30, Atlanta Falcons 27 (OT)
Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant (Hillcrest-Evergreen) made one tackle in his NFL debut. Atlanta elevated Bryant from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Mike Jackson (Spain Park) started at cornerback for the Panthers. Jackson made two tackles and broke up one pass.
Panthers linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) started at wide receiver for the Falcons. Mooney had three receptions for 34 yards before leaving with a knee injury.
Buffalo Bills 44, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32
Bills offensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley, Troy) started at wide receiver for the Buccaneers. Johnson had a 6-yard reception and three rushing attempts that netted zero yards.
Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) did not record any stats.
Jacksonville Jaguars 35, Los Angeles Chargers 6
Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen made four tackles, recorded one sack and broke up one pass. Allen’s third sack of the season was the 56th of his career as the former All-State wide receiver took sole possession of the franchise record. Tony Brackens had 55 sacks for Jacksonville from 1996 through 2003.
Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) got his first action of the season by running the Jacksonville offense on its final possession. The Jaguars ate up the final 5:02 of the game on eight consecutive carries by running back LeQuint Allen Jr.
Chargers cornerback Jordan Oladokun (Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars defensive back Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Fultondale) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Kimani Vidal (Troy) started at running back for the Chargers. Vidal ran for 13 yards on five carries and caught two passes that netted minus-1 yard.
Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Cincinnati Bengals 12
Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson) made three tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams.
Steelers defensive tackle Brodric Martin-Rhodes (Northridge, North Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) made field goals of 43 and 48 yards in his only attempts in the game.
Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) made four tackles before leaving the game because of a foot injury.
Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 44.3 yards on three punts, with a 43.0-yard net. Waitman had a 44-yard punt to a fair catch at the Cincinnati 10-yard line, a 47-yarder downed at the Cincinnati 26 and a 42-yarder returned 4 yards to the Cincinnati 17.
Houston Texans 16, Tennessee Titans 13
Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) started at center for the Texans.
Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started at wide receiver for the Texans. Collins had nine receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown. Collins caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Davis Mills as Houston took a 7-6 lead with 7:21 left in the third quarter. Collins had a 17-yard reception on third-and-16 at the Texans 42-yard line with 44 seconds to play as Houston moved into position for the game-winning field goal on the final snap.
Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.
Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) started at right guard for the Texans. Howard missed Houston’s previous game because of a concussion. He returned to the lineup at right guard instead of his previous position of right tackle.
Kamari Lassiter (American Christian) started at cornerback for the Texans. Lassiter made two tackles and broke up one pass.
Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) made one tackle.
Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on reserve/physically unable to perform and not eligible to play.
Titans guard Clay Webb (Oxford, Jacksonville State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
San Francisco 49ers 41, Arizona Cardinals 22
Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) started at defensive end for the 49ers. Huff made one tackle and registered two quarterback hits.
Forty-Niners cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (South Alabama) made two tackles on defense and one on special teams.
Forty-Niners defensive back Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) made one tackle on special teams.
Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (Ramsay, UAB) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Los Angeles Rams 21, Seattle Seahawks 19
Seahawks safety A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Rams outside linebacker Jamil Muhammad (James Clemens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Seahawks nose tackle Bubba Thomas (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Rams cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) made three tackles and intercepted one pass. Williams picked off quarterback Sam Darnold and returned it 18 yards to the Seattle 49-yard line with 10:45 to play. Williams’ first interception of the season was the 12th of his career.
Baltimore Ravens 23, Cleveland Browns 16
Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) did not record any stats.
Browns safety Christopher Edmonds (Samford) made one tackle on special teams.
Quinshon Judkins (Pike Road) started at running back for the Browns. Judkins ran for 59 yards on 17 carries.
Ravens offensive tackle Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M) did not record any stats.
Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Browns defensive end Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) was designated as a game-day inactive. A quadricep injury kept Wright out of the lineup.
Denver Broncos 22, Kansas City Chiefs 19
Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) started at cornerback for the Broncos. Abrams-Draine made four tackles and broke up one pass.
Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Philadelphia Eagles 16, Detroit Lions 9
Eagles cornerback Jakorian Bennett (McGill-Toolen) did not record any stats as he returned to the field after missing the previous six games because of a pectoral injury.
Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) started at safety for the Eagles. Blankenship made four tackles.
Lions wide receiver Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Lions linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley) is on the injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Lions offensive lineman Chris Hubbard (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Eagles cornerback Mac McWilliams (UAB) was designated as a game-day inactive
Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OURNFL PAGE
Week 11 started on Thursday night, when the New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets 27-14.
Week 11 concludes on Monday, when the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.
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