Brian Daboll built up enough equity in his first season as New York Giants coach that it would be almost impossible for him to wind up on the hot seat this year. That’s fortunate for Daboll because Sunday’s 13-10 overtime loss to the New York Jets is the type of showing that gets coaches fired.
Sunday’s performance resembled the darkest days of the Joe Judge era. Judge, who was fired after two seasons, bottomed out when he coached ultra-conservatively with his third-string quarterback at the end of the 2021 season.
A similar scene unfolded Sunday, as the team was without starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who is sidelined with a neck injury like he was in Judge’s final season. Veteran backup Tyrod Taylor was knocked out of Sunday’s game midway through the second quarter with a rib cage injury that required a hospital visit for further evaluation.
Taylor was replaced by undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito, who made his career debut after being elevated from the practice squad for the third consecutive game. Daboll showed no faith in DeVito on a rainy day against a formidable Jets defense. The rookie completed 2-of-7 passes for -1 yard, attempting just one pass in the third and fourth quarters.
Despite that painfully conservative approach, the Giants were in position to win the game. But Daboll’s lack of faith in the offense led him to kick a field goal on fourth-and-1 from the Jets’ 17-yard line with 28 seconds remaining.
“Counted on making the field goal, and then they’d have 24 seconds with no timeouts,” Daboll said. “Still have to drive it the length (of the field) and our defense was playing well all game.”
Usually automatic, kicker Graham Gano missed his second field goal of the game, sending the 35-yard chip shot wide left. The Jets, who hadn’t done anything offensively outside of a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Breece Hall in the first quarter, still only had 24 seconds left and no timeouts with the ball at their 25-yard line trailing 10-7.
“I made the decision I thought was best for the team,” Daboll said. “It didn’t work out. So, at the end of the day, I take responsibility. But I thought it was the best for the team, and that’s the way I’ll always make them.”
The Giants had rattled Jets quarterback Zach Wilson all day with a relentless pass rush, but defensive coordinator Wink Martindale called for a three-man rush and prevent coverage on first down. Wilson found wide receiver Garrett Wilson for a 29-yard gain to the Giants’ 46 between cornerback Deonte Banks, safety Xavier McKinney and safety Dane Belton.