The Washington Commanders opened Week 10 with a 24–21 victory over the New York Giants on “Thursday Night Football.” The Giants took a late lead with 8:13 remaining, but they could not hold on. They had two opportunities to put the game away and went three-and-out on both drives, giving Washington the chance to take control and eventually secure the win.
One of those late Giants possessions produced an unexpected highlight. With New York facing fourth-and-one deep in its own territory, Jameis Winston lined up under center and turned a short-yardage situation into a singalong.
The decision to go for it had become a point of discussion during the broadcast. Kirk Herbstreit and Al Michaels debated whether the Giants would attempt to convert, and the offense initially lined up in a short-yardage formation with Winston taking the snap from under center. Given the situation, it looked as though New York might be trying to draw the Commanders offside.
Then Winston changed the mood at the line.
After a shift, he called out, “Who let the dogs out?”—an unmistakable reference to the Baha Men’s enduring hit. He followed it with the song’s familiar refrain: “Who, who, who, who?”
## Winston brings a 2000 hit to the line of scrimmage
The moment quickly stood out from the game’s late drama. Instead of hearing a conventional cadence, players and viewers heard Winston reference a song that had been part of pop culture for decades. The line seemed to fit the setup perfectly: the Giants were gathered in a short-yardage package, Winston was under center, and the offense appeared ready to use its calls to influence the defense.
“Who Let the Dogs Out” was released as a single from the soundtrack to *Rugrats in Paris: The Movie*. Winston would have been six years old when the song came out—an age when a catchy refrain could easily become unforgettable. More than two decades later, he brought it into an NFL game, making a fourth-and-one call a memorable moment of the night.
The song’s opening question is hard to mistake, and Winston delivered it with enough enthusiasm to turn the sequence into a viral-worthy highlight. His call also offered a playful contrast to the tension of the situation. The Giants were deep in their own territory, facing a crucial decision late in a close game, yet Winston’s cadence briefly made the field feel more like a concert than a fourth-down showdown.
The moment revived an old football comparison, too. “Omaha!” has long been one of the most recognizable calls heard at the line of scrimmage. Winston’s rendition of “Who Let the Dogs Out?” gave fans a new phrase to remember from an NFL game—and one with a very different musical history.
## A memorable call in a costly late-game stretch
For the Giants, the entertaining moment came during a difficult finish. New York had moved ahead with 8:13 left and then had two chances to protect its lead. Both drives ended in three-and-outs, leaving the Commanders with the opportunity to respond. Washington ultimately took the lead for good and completed the 24–21 win.
The result made the late sequence especially significant. A fourth-down situation deep in Giants territory carried obvious stakes, while the team’s final drives left little room for error. Winston’s call provided levity, but the larger story remained the Commanders’ comeback and the Giants’ inability to close out the game after taking the lead.
Despite the loss, New York stood at 5–3–1 after the game and still controlled its own destiny in the NFC East. With eight weeks left in the season, the Giants had time to respond and remain in contention. There was also plenty of time for Winston to add another unexpected song reference to his repertoire.
For one night, though, “Who Let the Dogs Out?” was the call that captured attention. It began as part of a tense fourth-and-one sequence and became one of the most unusual—and memorable—moments from the Commanders’ 24–21 victory over the Giants.
