The New York Giants lost their ninth consecutive game on Sunday this one 16-13 against a hobbled Minnesota Vikings squad. Brian Flores, a coach the Giants are familiar with, harassed and dominated Mike Kafka and Jaxson Dart all game. Before the game, Dart described Flores’ defense as “chaotic,“ which is precisely how the Giants’ offense operated.
Dart was uncomfortable, the Giants struggled to catch, the protection was poor, and, unfortunately, injured. New York forced two turnovers — Abdul Carter’s offside penalty negated a third. However, the defense still suffered from similar issues: missed tackles and an inability to stop opponents on third-and-long. Minnesota, with J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer as the signal-callers, converted 7 of 12 third-down attempts and their lone fourth-down attempt.
The 2025 season can’t end fast enough for the Giants. Here are five plays, or five sequences of plays, that led to the Giants’ loss.
Play(s) 1: Can’t capitalize
The Giants’ offense mustered six points, but Minnesota’s aggressive approach led to several extra opportunities for Jaxson Dart. A roughing-the-passer penalty negated an early third-and-six Harrison Smith sack; the Giants would eventually go for a fourth-and-five on the Vikings’ 10-yard line, and they failed to convert, leading to a big ZERO on the scoreboard.
A similar situation arose later in the game in the first play of the fourth quarter. Eric Wilson sacked Dart on third-and-twelve, and that too was deemed roughing the passer, giving the Giants another chance to put points on the board, which they did with Ben Sauls’ 39-yard field goal.
The Giants’ offense had an opportunity to drive and win the football game late in the game. On second-and-nine, Dart ripped a very impressive ball into the numbers of Darius Slayton, who bobbled and failed to secure the pass. It was one of the only high-quality throws from the rookie quarterback, and Slayton dropped it, which has become way too familiar a sight in 2025—still, Byron Murphy Jr. would go on to commit an illegal contact penalty on the next third-and-nine, giving Dart a fresh set of downs that led to an eventual fourth-and-three. Dart was sacked for a nine-yard loss on that play.
There was also a defensive holding penalty on second-and-fourteen that wiped out a Chris Manhertz holding penalty from the previous play; an Aaron Stinnie false start put the Giants in third-and-nine, and New York eventually had to punt.
The Vikings were sloppy in critical situations, giving New York extra opportunities to capitalize, and they failed to capitalize on those chances.
Play 2: Brian Burns delivers
The Vikings had all the momentum heading into half-time. The Giants couldn’t throw the football whatsoever and Minnesota had a 13-3 lead with just 30 seconds left in the half. Kevin O’Connell called a run that picked up six yards and he did not call a timeout. J.J. McCarthy snapped the football with 17 seconds left on a screen dialed up to Justin Jefferson, and the second-year signal caller held onto the football WAY too long, which allowed an unblocked Brian Burns to nail him from the backside.
Tyler Nubin then scooped up the free football and returned it for a touchdown and McCarthy injured his hand and would be ruled out for the rest of the game. Max Brosmer was forced into action for the second half.
Play(s) 3: First-half passing
The Giants DID NOT want to pass the football in the first half. They had -6 yards per pass play until the two-minute warning and Dart appeared quite uncomfortable. Mike Kafka leaned on the rushing attack for a few reasons; for starters, it was successful. New York rushed for 76 on 16 attempts in the first half, and the Giants pass protection failed to identify several blitzers. Before the game, Dart said Brian Flores’ defense is “pure chaos,” and that’s exactly what this passing attack experienced.
Dart was getting hit by unblocked blitzers early and often. It wasn’t until the two-minute warning in the first half that Jaxson Dart completed a pass; he was sacked three times up until that point and was 0 of 3. Dart nearly threw his second interception on the first play of the two-minute drive, with the Giants down 13-3; Tyron Tracy Jr. was called for a hold. Dart nearly threw a pick two plays later as well.
New York did little through the air
Play 4: J.J. McCarthy’s rushing touchdown
McCarthy scored with his legs in the first half after Brian Burns (0) lost contain and McCarthy used Aaron Jones Sr. (33) as a blocker to eliminate Tyler Nubin (27). Touchdowns were hard to come by for both offenses but McCarthy was able to find pay dirt on third down – something the Giants’ defense struggled to defend agianst….
Play(s) 5: Giants’ third-and-long defense
Shane Bowen is no longer affiliated with the New York Giants, but the tackle execution and ability to prevent big plays on third-and-long continue to plague New York. The Giants capitulated an early third-and-eleven to Justin Jefferson underneath on the Vikings first third down of the game; McCarthy threw the ball underneath and Jefferson made a defender miss for a first down. Shortly after that, McCarthy found Jefferson again on a screen that went 14 yards on third-and-twelve – these issues still persist!
Then, with 9:44 left in a tied game, the Giants forced Max Brosmer into a third-and-17 where he – somehow – found Justin Jefferson on a 21-yard seven route to move the sticks that set up the eventual go-ahead 30-yard Will Reichard field goal.
New York received one opportunity to stop the Vikings on third and long with no timeouts and 1:48 left in a three point game, but this is the Giants. New York allowed Aaron Jones Sr. to carve through their defense and kneel their way to victory, unsurprisingly. The Giants defense is still unsound in terms of tackling and continuity.
See More:
