Nick Brinkerhoff, USA TODAYMon, November 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM UTC·2 min readMalik Nabers has seen this movie before.
Losing double-digit leads has been a theme all season long for the New York Giants, who did is again in Week 12. Up 27-17 in the fourth quarter, everything was going right for the G-Men, until it wasn't. New York would eventually squander that lead and lose in overtime, 34-27 to the Detroit Lions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe blown lead would lead to change, as the Giants would also go on to fire defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, as first reported by NorthJersey.com's Art Stapleton (part of the USA TODAY Network).
However, it was what happened before the collapse drew the ire of Nabers, who was less than impressed with the sequence.
"Sometimes I think they b makin us lose on purpose!" Nabers said in a since-deleted post on X. "Cause it's no way, bro you throw the ball instead of runnin it to make em burn 2 timeouts?? thn you don't kick the field goal.??? Then they have to go down and score!!! Football common sense!!!! Am I missing something?"
Nabers is out for the season with a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 4, giving him the opportunity to see the game through a different lens.
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
Week 1: The New England Patriots' Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.
Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.
Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
2 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: The New England Patriots' Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.3 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.4 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.The Giants had the opportunity to take a two-possession lead late in the fourth quarter.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSet up with a goal-to-go situation at the Detroit four-yard line, Big Blue opted to run the ball with a three-point lead. The Lions got the stop, burning their first timeout.
New York opted to throw on second down, but the pass fell incomplete. Following a run that went backwards on third down, Detroit burned their second timeout.
Rather than kick the field goal to make it a six-point game, interim head coach Mike Kafka opted to go for it. Jameis Winston's pass was incomplete and the Lions only needed a field goal to tie with just over 2:50 left in regulation.
The Lions would drive down the field and kick the tying field goal, before going on to win in overtime.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf Nabers had his way, Detroit would've needed a touchdown to win the game.
Instead the Giants fell to 2-10 on the season, losing another game they held a fourth-quarter lead in. They do have a head coach opening, however.
Maybe Nabers will want to apply.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Malik Nabers posts, deletes criticism of Giants' late-game decisions
AdvertisementAdvertisement
