Giants Coach John Harbaugh Explains Late-Game Decisions, Injury Updates, and Center Change Giants head coach John Harbaugh defended his decision to kick extra points instead of going for two in the Week 5 tie with Washington, while providing updates on injured players and confirming Bryan Hudson as the starting center. New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh explained Monday why he chose to kick extra points instead of attempting two-point conversions late in the team's Week 5 tie with the Washington Commanders. The Giants were down by 14 points when Jameis Winston hit tight end Isaiah Likely with a 17-yard scoring pass to trim the deficit to 27-19 with 7:20 left in the fourth quarter. Although analytics suggest going for two in that situation, Harbaugh opted for the extra point to pull within seven. I think generally speaking, theoretically, you go for two, Harbaugh said.John Harbaugh Strategy for Overtime DecisionThen you see if you have to go for two twice, give yourself a chance to win the game in regulation. But the way the game was going, I just decided I wanted to put it into overtime. I did not want to take the chance on the 2-point conversion. I thought overtime would give us the best chance.Harbaugh added that the road division context influenced his thinking. Plus, it is a road division game so the tie is not the worst thing for the road team, he said. So, I just feel like all in all, I made that decision to go for one and put it in overtime if it came down to two scores. Harbaugh sent Dominic Zvada out for the extra point to make it 27-20.When Winston found Malik Nabers with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter to bring the Giants within 27-26, Harbaugh again called on Zvada for the extra point to pull the Giants even. That decision ultimately led to the 27-27 tie. The Giants came out of the game with injuries to three key players: right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), safety Tyler Nubin (neck), and cornerback Colton Hood (concussion). Harbaugh said all three are day to day.They will have a chance for the game, Harbaugh said of Sunday's meeting with the Saints. We will just have to see how it goes throughout the course of the week. Cornerback Greg Newsome II was also banged up in the game, though the nature of his injury is not known. Harbaugh said Newsome was fine and did not see his ailment as one that might keep him out of practice this week.Giants Injury Updates on Defensive PlayersHarbaugh did not offer any updates on safety Jason Pinnock, who missed Sunday's game with a concussion suffered in the win over Arizona. Pinnock is thought to have traveled with the team to Washington, which would suggest he may be further along in the protocol. Harbaugh also did not say whether cornerback Paulson Adebo, who is now eligible to have his 21-day practice window opened, would be back at practice this week.Bryan Hudson started at center for the second consecutive game, replacing John Michael Schmitz Jr., and will remain in that role for this week, Harbaugh said. He played well in the game the week before, and he played well in this past game, Harbaugh said. Things he can do better, but things he did really well, and that is what we based it on. JMS will still be in the plans.He could play, but Huddy will be the starter. Schmitz did not play in Week 4 against the Cardinals despite being active, and he contributed on special teams in Week 5 against the Commanders. Harbaugh also revealed a new weekly award: the Purple Heart patch, given to players who work through injuries to get on the field.Purple Heart Award Recognizes Playing Through InjuryIt is one of our awards for guys that are working through injury-type things, that they play, or they come back from, he said. Receiver Malik Nabers received a Purple Heart in Week 1 for a knee issue, and offensive lineman Andrew Thomas, who has been battling a groin injury over the last several weeks, was a recent recipient. Guys have things this time of year. He is doing a great job.He is so tough. Got the Purple Heart last week. He is playing at a high level. I mean, it may be laboring for him, but still the result is better than almost every player in the league at that position.On the field, the Giants' Week 5 tie with Washington increased their lead over the rest of the division by a half game. I told the guys, Was it a win? No. Was it a loss? No. It was a tie, Harbaugh said after the game on Sunday.How does that make you feel? I am happy it was not a loss, and I am sad it was not a win. So that is how I feel. It is a tie.Jameis Winston Passing Attack Shows PromiseIt is a heck of a lot better than a loss, but it is not as good as a win. The Giants appear to have found the right formula to bring out the best in quarterback Jameis Winston when New York switched to more of a drop-back passing attack. It was good, no question. We have been talking about some of the tempo stuff, Harbaugh said.We have been working on that. It has been part of our system from day one, really. It is something we built in from the beginning. And it was good to get to it.We have been talking about getting to it. We got to it maybe because we had to. So yeah, it opened up the offense. It was good to see, and it probably needs to be part of what we are doing going forward.Giants Run Defense Allows Significant Rushing YardsThe run defense had a feast or famine nature, allowing 202 yards to the Commanders, the fourth-highest rushing total of Week 5. I think we have had too many chunk plays overall, Harbaugh said. We have had a lot of really good plays, a lot of really good plays in that game where we stuffed the run, which we are very capable of doing.And then there are a couple of line of scrimmage runs that get out on us that we are not happy about that can be played so much better. Whether we do not adjust to a motion the right way, we do not get over in our gaps, we do not quite come in through the angles, he said. I think sometimes our tackling in the back end is really good.And sometimes it is not good, especially if it is spacey. It is always tough to tackle a really fast ball carrier, especially a scrambling quarterback who can run in man coverage. And that is what they caught us in.