EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Coach Brian Daboll said he doesn’t plan any major changes to his team after the New York Giants gave up 33 points in the fourth quarter of a stunning 33-32 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
The Giants became the first team in 1,603 NFL games to blow a lead of at least 18 points with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That brought attention specifically to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen after several key defensive players were unhappy with a play call during the opening snap of the Broncos’ game-winning drive with 33 seconds left.
“No, I’m not considering that,” Daboll said of the possibility of major personnel changes during a Zoom call with reporters Monday. “But we all have to do a better job, and that starts with me. There are plenty of opportunities to finish this game the way we wanted to and we didn’t get the job done.”
This is the second time this season that the Giants have let a game slip away in the final seconds. This also happened in a Week 2 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants were criticized for playing soft coverage that allowed Dallas to tie the score in the final seconds of regulation, and Bowen expressed regret for not being more aggressive.
This time, Daboll said it was a different situation and playcall. The Giants were in man coverage and had two defenders stationed deep to roam and protect the middle of the field. But New York still only rushed three — not counting standouts Dexter Lawrence and Abdul Carter, who were on the sideline — and Denver quarterback Bo Nix completed a 29-yard pass to Marvin Mims to the Giants’ 48.
Denver moved to field goal moments later before punting the ball with two seconds left to set up the game-winning kick.
“Drop eight!” » Defensive captain Brian Burns said in disbelief, amid a series of curses as he walked through the bowels of the stadium towards the locker room.
When asked about it afterward, Burns pursed his lips, turned his head away and refused to answer. Lawrence paused unusually long when faced with the same question.
“Let’s leave that to the coaches,” he said.
Daboll was asked Monday about the unrest among his defensive leaders and whether that raised concerns about keeping Bowen and the defensive staff intact.
“Yeah, look, we had a lot of plays that we had opportunities to make throughout the fourth quarter, I would say, and we just failed,” Daboll said. “It’s not about one play. It’s not about one player. It’s not about any one team. It’s a collective and, you know, I can do a better job.”
Bowen is in his second season as the Giants’ defensive coordinator. He replaced Wink Martindale, who left after an argument with Daboll at the end of their second season together.
The Giants (2-5) will face the Philadelphia Eagles on the road next Sunday.
Starting middle linebacker and captain Bobby Okereke said Monday that Bowen has the full support of the defense.
“Yes, 100%,” Okereke said. “We’re all hands on deck. We’re all convinced.”
Daboll and Okereke insisted the defeat was not the result of a single individual or play, but rather a collection of moments and mistakes.
“There’s not one player, one coach, one position group. Everyone really had their hand in the pot in this loss,” Okereke said. “It’s really just that aggressiveness of having the detail to finish and having the urgency to finish because these games are going to come down to one score or less. You have to win in the fourth quarter.”
