The referee in charge as Washington Redskins lost 24-17 to New York Giants has said that the stakes were moved incorrectly on a play that saw the former slip up following a miscommunication.

Being seven down with only a few minutes to play, Robert Griffin III found Pierre Garcon, who was brought down, with the Redskins looking to be just short of a first down.

Skins coach Mike Shanahan was then thought to have believed that the referee had agreed on a first down, with the chains being moved and the sideline stake set to indicate a first down.

Griffin made his play, which was dropped by Fred Davis, but then the chains were reset to indicate a fourth down.

After the game ref Jeff Triplette confirmed that the officials had indicated a third down for the decision, but that the stakes had been set incorrectly.

Following the defeat, the Redskins were officially eliminated from NFL playoff contention with a record of 3-8.