Over the weekend, NBC pulled out a soundtrack that fans swore belonged to another network, and it fit one of the wildest finishes of the NFL season perfectly
NFL fans spotted one clear ESPN theme on an NBC highlights package
NFL fans spotted one clear ESPN theme on an NBC highlights package(Image: Getty)
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Football Night in America gave viewers a chaotic game, and a soundtrack that sent a lot of ESPN fans into a nostalgic spin.
NBC's Sunday night show set its Giants-Commanders highlight package to the music long associated with ESPN's "NFL Primetime," and the clip spread quickly. Fans flooded the replies with reactions ranging from delight to confusion.
The game itself was a good match for the music. The Giants and Commanders finished in a 27-27 tie at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The Giants drove into scoring position twice in overtime and came away with nothing, thanks to a missed field goal and a Cam Skattebo fumble at the Washington 24-yard line. Commanders players taunted Skattebo after the fumble, only to be hit with instant karma minutes later.
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Washington then had the chance to win it, but the ending was one of the strangest in recent memory.
With the Commanders out of timeouts and inside the Giants' 30, Jayden Daniels danced in the pocket and went down at the line of scrimmage with about seven seconds left.
Washington could not get lined up to spike the ball, and the clock expired. Coach Dan Quinn put it on himself.
"We pride ourselves on those moments at the end of the game," Quinn said. "That is my responsibility. Nobody else's."
The Commanders also blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, and the Giants missed three field goals. Jameis Winston threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, while Daniels ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns in his return from a dislocated elbow. The Giants stay in first place in the NFC East at 3-1-1. Meanwhile, some fans said the NBC theme music felt like a throwback.
Jayden Daniels was slammed for his final play.
Jayden Daniels was slammed for his final play.(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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One wrote: "The best years for Primetime were Boomer and Tom Jackson. I miss the old days."
Another said: "Missing Boomer's patented 'tic tic tic tic' at the end."
A third joked: "HE COULD GO ALL THE WAY...WAIT THIS IS NBC...WHAAATT!?"
Several fans pointed out that the tune does not belong to ESPN. One wrote that it is NFL Films' library music and "eligible for public use by anyone if they pay for it."
Another said: "I love that the NFL Network plays this now, I could listen to it all day," while one user added: "the espn theme on nbc is the multiverse crossover nobody asked for but everyone needed."
One fan summed up the reaction to the pairing. "This is awesome," he wrote. "Complete chaos of a game set to this music."