Even former President Donald Trump was stunned by what unfolded in the Giants’ latest collapse.
In their 34–27 overtime defeat to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Giants made a late-game choice that quickly became the center of controversy. Clinging to a 27–24 lead with just minutes left, interim coach Mike Kafka passed up a short field-goal attempt and kept the offense out there on fourth-and-goal from the Detroit 6-yard line. The gamble didn’t pay off—Jameis Winston’s pass to tight end Theo Johnson was swatted away by Lions corner Rock Ya-Sin, turning the ball over and handing Detroit new life.
According to Next Gen Stats, the Giants had a 93% chance of winning when they reached first-and-goal, making the failed decision even more brutal. It didn’t take long for Trump, who said he caught the end of the game, to voice his frustration on Truth Social early Monday. He blasted the call, wondering why New York didn’t simply kick the field goal. “Why didn’t the New York Giants go for the three points?” he wrote. “Who makes that decision? It was CRAZY!”
Detroit made them pay. The Lions marched 53 yards on 13 plays, and Jake Bates drilled a 59-yard kick as time expired to force overtime. After the Giants came up empty on their opening drive of OT, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs ripped off a 69-yard touchdown to end the game.
The Giants, now 2–10, became the first team officially eliminated from playoff contention.
