Despite the struggles on the scoreboard, the New York Giants have maintained a generally positive locker room atmosphere this season, thanks in part to rookie contributions from Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo, along with the unique personality of fan favorite Jameis Winston.

Injuries, however, have played a major role in New York’s challenges, none more impactful than wide receiver Malik Nabers’ season-ending ACL tear. Even off the field, Nabers hasn’t shied away from expressing his frustrations with the team.

After the Giants fell 27-24 in overtime to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nabers took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts on the final moments of the game.

He posted, “Sometimes I think they b makin us lose on purpose! Cause it’s no way, bro you throw the ball instead of runnin it to make em burn 2 timeouts?? then you dnt kick the field goal.??? Then they have to go down and score!!! Football common sense!!!! Am I missing something?”

The wideout deleted the post shortly after, but screenshots quickly circulated online.

Breaking Down Nabers’ Critique

Nabers was referencing a late-game drive where the Giants went 86 yards on 14 plays, leaving just under three minutes on the clock. Leading by three points with a goal-to-go, interim head coach Mike Kafka called two passing plays, both of which were incomplete. This stopped the clock, allowing Detroit to preserve timeouts.

Kafka also opted to go for it on fourth down, resulting in another incomplete pass and a turnover on downs. The Lions then advanced downfield and tied the game with a field goal, sending it into overtime. Detroit quickly secured the win with Jahmyr Gibbs’ 69-yard touchdown run on the first play of OT.

Had the Giants attempted a field goal on that critical fourth down, Detroit would have needed a touchdown in the final two minutes to force overtime, rather than just a field goal.

Was the Giants’ Loss Intentional?

While Nabers’ suggestion that the Giants were deliberately losing the game was unprofessional, it touches on a broader conversation. After Sunday’s defeat, New York is on track to hold the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

No NFL team openly tries to lose—players and coaches are fighting for their jobs—but it’s not unreasonable to think the front office could be satisfied with the outcome. The team showed effort, the players remained engaged, and the loss brought them closer to a valuable draft position.