The New York Giants had another fourth-quarter collapse in Week 10, leading to a 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears. This is the fourth Giants loss in which they led by double digits.
Although this loss is different than the others, with Jaxson Dart leaving the game entirely, due to concussion protocol, in the third quarter, it is still another inexcusable, blown opportunity.
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There are several reasons for these late-game collapses, the main ones being their passive defense, cautious offensive playcalling, and blundered plays on offense. These giant issues are undoubtedly the reason the Giants have fired Head Coach Brian Daboll.
Defense Allowing Easy Yards
The Giants’ defense in the fourth quarter is arguably the worst in the NFL — per NFLPro, they allow the second-most yards (121.5), the most touchdowns (14), the most yards per pass (7.9), and the most yards per rush (6.0).
The poor defense stems from multiple roots, one of which is the playcalling of Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen. Bowen has made mistake after mistake this season, and in the fourth quarter, those mistakes get amplified.
Bowen plays coverage extremely soft, with the prime examples being against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 and the Denver Broncos in Week 7. He is not afraid to allow completions, maintaining a philosophy of ‘bend, don’t break,’ but this is clearly not a reliable option.
Another issue is the scarcity of pass rushers. The Giants’ pass-rush group is their strongest part of the team, yet they often choose to rush only three players.
A prime example of this was a key third down against Chicago, where they decided to have Abdul Carter act as a QB spy instead of pass-rushing. This didn’t work, as Chicago picked up 20 yards because of the amount of time Caleb Williams had.
With Daboll now out as head coach, there is a strong chance that Bowen will follow soon.
Offense Playcalling Too Cautious
Playing with a lead, the Giants are never looking to increase it; instead, they are looking to hold onto it. This plan has led to their downfall, thanks to their inconsistent running game, lightning-quick three-and-outs, and inability to rely on their weapons.
In Dart’s absence, the run game takes a significant hit. His gravity is evident in the Cowboys and Bears games, where they were unable to pick up first downs and chew the clock because of Russell Wilson‘s lack of athleticism at this point in his career. The absence of Cam Skattbeo has also made it much more difficult to convert in short-yardage situations.
The Giants go three-and-out far too much. The offense can go stale quickly because of the number of drops that seem to dismantle possessions. With Malik Nabers and Skattebo out for the season, New York’s desperate need for a reliable weapon has cost them dearly.
The biggest headline of this offensive collapse is the refusal to go for the touchdown on 4th-and-goal at the one-yard line against Chicago. Even if the Giants did not score a touchdown, the Bears would still have to drive 99 yards to score one of their own.
In today’s NFL, New York’s decision to kick a field goal is outdated, and the Giants’ loss served as a stark reminder of why.
Critical Errors on Both Sides of the Ball
Despite the Giants’ caution on offense, they still managed to make significant mistakes. The most prominent example is New York having five straight turnover drives against the New Orleans Saints.
Even if they just cut those turnovers in half, the Giants would have had a great chance to maintain their lead. Nevertheless, this game was a display of their lack of discipline.
Another form of misstep for the G-Men is penalties. The Giants have the second-most penalties in the NFL, and this is an easy way to lose a lead. This problem has been evident in nearly every game, but it was most pronounced against the Cowboys, when they had 14 penalties.
The Giants’ lack of discipline has been one of the most significant issues of the season, and will likely be a point of emphasis for the new coaching regime to change.
Will Everything Change With the Coach Firings?
With Daboll gone and Bowen likely on his way out, there’s reason to believe that some of these problems will be improved. Interim Head Coach Mike Kafka can’t fix the issue of the lack of offensive stars, but he can change things like aggressiveness on offense.
If Bowen is gone, the Giants are more likely to utilize their star power on the defensive line fully; they would play their four stars together more often, and line Dexter Lawrence at nose tackle more often.
Although the coaching change won’t change everything, it is a step in the right direction for the Giants’ future.
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