New York Giants' Malik Nabers rails against Mike Kafka's play-calling

The New York Giants suffered their sixth consecutive loss on Sunday, dropping their record to 2-10 on the season and 0-7 on the road, which eliminated them from playoff contention.

The Giants entered the game as heavy underdogs against a formidable Detroit Lions team, but surprised many observers by leading for most of regulation before squandering yet another double-digit lead in the fourth quarter -- a recurring pattern this season.

While poor teams often find ways to lose, the Giants have done so in a particularly improbable fashion throughout the year.

Late in the fourth quarter, with approximately three minutes remaining and the Giants ahead by three points, interim head coach Mike Kafka opted to go for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the six-yard line, aiming to extend the lead to two possessions rather than kicking a field goal to go up by six and compel the Lions to score a touchdown on their final drive.

Star wide receiver Malik Nabers, who is recovering from a torn ACL sustained in Week 4, publicly criticized Kafka's decision in a post on X following the loss, which he subsequently deleted. Screenshots preserved the reaction, and it quickly circulated online.

The Lions tied the game on their ensuing possession, forcing overtime, where they ultimately prevailed by seven points.

Kafka's seven-game audition as the Giants' interim head coach has not gotten off to an auspicious start. Nabers represents a cornerstone of the Giants' future, and his comments on X do not reflect favorably on the situation, particularly given that Kafka could return with the team next season, whether as head coach or in a coordinator role. The Giants may choose to retain Kafka to provide quarterback Jaxson Dart with some continuity heading into his rookie year.

Even amid the Giants' lost season, it has been difficult to witness the team's repeated fourth-quarter collapses. Nabers's frustrations are entirely understandable, and many fans share the sentiment in the wake of yet another breakdown.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants' Malik Nabers rails against Mike Kafka's play-calling