When a team is up 19-0 at the end of the third quarter, it’s usually a done deal for them, barring an epic collapse. If the team is still up 26-8 halfway through the fourth quarter, it takes a violent defensive failure to turn that into a loss. Somehow, the New York Giants were able to do that in what can only be described as a complete defensive meltdown.

Despite controlling most of the game on offense and defense, the Giants’ defense saw a spectacular collapse en route to a 33-32 loss against the Denver Broncos. The team now falls to 2-5 and is in danger of being well behind in any playoff race, thanks to a 33-point fourth-quarter rally by Denver. In fact, the Broncos scored three touchdowns in five minutes, including on a drive set up by a Jaxson Dart turnover.

There Is No Excuse For Shane Bowen

There had already been questions about defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s ability to lead the defense, seeing that New York held one of the worst-performing corps in the league.

Following yesterday’s loss, the team ranks nearly-last in yards surrendered per game, dead-last in fourth-down conversions allowed, and 26th in yards per play. The secondary is quite possibly the worst in the league, despite holding opposing quarterbacks to a 64% completion rating. They lack a consistent rush at the front and are not able to make a lot of turnovers, even in the wake of their Week 6 win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

If there’s one play that sums up Bowen’s poor decision-making in critical situations, look no further than the long completion to Marvin Mims:

Needless to say, veteran linebacker Brian Burns wasn’t happy with the playcall, nor was Brian Daboll.

A 33-point collapse, which was nearly saved by a Dart touchdown run with 33 seconds remaining in the game, is flat-out unacceptable by any standards. It’s also not the first time Bowen’s been under fire for his questionable play-calling. The same issues arose following an overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, where Bowen played zone coverage down the field.

The Cowboys were able to march down the field for kicker Brandon Aubrey to tie the game at 37. That drive took just 19 seconds. How Bown is still here remains a mystery, but he’s likely going to be out by the end of the season at the latest. However, if the defense continues to collapse in late-game situations like this, a mid-season change to the defensive coaching staff may be considered.

Jaxson Dart Quickly Making A Case To Be The Franchise Face

The defensive collapse ruined what could have been Dart’s second-straight statement performance against a playoff-ready team. Despite battling the altitude aerodynamics that saw his completion rating dip under 50%, the rookie quarterback threw for over 280 yards and three touchdowns. He also added his rushing touchdown late in the game.

His big mistake came late in the fourth quarter, when he threw an interception to Justin Strnad in Giants territory. Dart was quick to take responsibility in the situation, stating “in that situation, you can’t do that.” He didn’t blame anyone outside of himself for the loss, he didn’t throw kicker Jude McAtamney under the bus for missing two extra points, choosing to sound like a seasoned pro rather than someone whose youth and ego get in the way of progress.

In his first four games as a starter, Dart has made the most of the opportunity by throwing seven touchdowns and rushing for three more scores. He’s thrown for under 1,000 yards and only has a completion rate above 60%, so there is work that needs to be done. His athleticism and leadership cannot be denied and his immediate impact on the offense can’t be understated. He’s going to be the next staple for the Giants at quarterback, barring any meltdowns or regression in play.

Just wait until Malik Nabers comes back next year.