The New York Giants won’t fire defensive coordinator Shane Bowen despite giving up 105 points during a three-game losing straak that has seen the Giants go from 2-4 to a disheartening 2-7.
The Giants lost 34-24 to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, a third straight game in which they have allowed more than 30 points.
The Giants gave up 33 points in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 7, 38 points to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8 and 34 on Sunday. They were head of Denver 19-0 after three quarters, but the defense has fallen apart since.
“Nothing’s good enough,” Daboll said. “Offense, defense, kicking game, we all can be better. That’s what we’re all working towards.
“That’s what Shane is working towards. That’s what the defensive staff, that’s the offensive staff, that’s the kicking game. And that’s what we’re going to try to do.We’re doing everything we can do to try to improve it. And I’m confident we will.”
The Giants have talked about making improvements defensively all season. With eight games to go, how can those be made now?
“There’s a number of things from technique to maybe change up the scheme a little bit, to open field tackling, everything that’s important on defense,” Daboll said. “We’ve got to do a better job of that collectively. That starts with me and that’s what we’ll work on doing.”
With a revamped unit that was expected to be one of the better defenses in the league, the Giants are 28th in points allowed (27.7) and last in the NFL in yards allowed per rushing attempt (5.5). Aside from Brian Burns, who leads the league with 11.0 sacks, the defense has fallen short of expectations.
Bowen was hired by the Giants before the 2024 season after Daboll and former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale engaged in a highly-publicized power struggle that ended with Martindale leaving the Giants.
In Bowen’s first year, the Giants’ defense was 21st in the NFL in in points and 24th in yards allowed. The Giants have surrendered more than 30 points four times.
Co-owner John Mara, clearly unhappy with the defense in Bowen’s first season, gave Daboll and GM Joe Schoen an opening to replace Bowen at the end of last season.
“Quite frankly, I didn’t think our defense played very well this year, at all,” Mara said. “I’m tired of watching teams go up and down the field on us, so I think that has to be addressed.”
The Giants stuck with Bowen.
During the offseason, they spent significant money on cornerback Paulson Adebo, safety Jevon Holland and defensive lineman Chauncey Golston. They drafted edge defender Abdul Carter No. 3 overall and defensive tackle Darius Alexander in the third round.
Rather than getting better, the defense has regressed.
There was speculation after the meltdown in Denver that the Giants would replace Bowen. That did not happen. It still has not happened, and at this point would seem unlikely to happen during the season.
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