Giants’ Mike Kafka Defends Late Fourth-Down Decision After 34–27 OT Loss in Detroit

On Sunday, November 23, 2025, in Detroit, the New York Giants experienced yet another frustrating outcome in a season filled with surrendered double-digit leads and lost opportunities. Interim head coach Mike Kafka, promoted on Nov. 10 after Brian Daboll’s firing, made a decisive call late in regulation during the 34-27 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. He did not reconsider it afterward.

With 3:07 left in regulation, the Giants led 27-24 after an 86-yard, 14-play drive. A sweep to Devin Singletary on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line resulted in a 4-yard loss, and after Detroit used a timeout, New York faced fourth-and-goal from the 6. Opting against a field goal, Kafka kept the offense on the field. Jameis Winston threw toward tight end Theo Johnson, but Rock Ya-Sin broke up the pass.

Detroit then tied the game on Jake Bates’ 59-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining. On the first play of overtime, Jahmyr Gibbs ran 69 yards for the winning touchdown, part of his 219 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns. The defeat marked the Giants’ fifth blown double-digit fourth-quarter lead of the season.

Oddsmakers had projected a difficult matchup for New York. Sportsbooks listed Detroit between 13.5- and 14-point favorites with totals between 50.5 and 51.5. Action Network placed the Giants’ moneyline at +724, and public picks reflected the large spread — all of which aligned with months of declining futures odds. DraftKings and Caesars opened the spring with New York in the +18000 to +20000 Super Bowl range, which lengthened to +100000 by November. Several sportsbooks removed playoff, division, and conference odds, and BetMGM posted “Miss the Playoffs” at -10000.

Coaching futures also entered the conversation after Daboll’s dismissal, with BetOnline posting Lane Kiffin as a 4/1 favorite and Kafka positioned farther down the board. Rookie award markets earlier in the season had featured Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter as contenders, but those odds changed once Dart was injured and the team kept losing.

On the field, Winston completed 18 of 36 passes for 366 yards with two passing touchdowns and one interception. He also caught his first career NFL reception on a designed trick play. The Giants used two significant gadget plays during the game. In the first half, Winston tossed the ball to Singletary, who returned it to Winston, leading to a 39-yard touchdown pass to Wan’Dale Robinson. Early in the fourth quarter, Winston flipped the ball on a reverse to Gunner Olszewski, who threw to Winston for a 33-yard touchdown. Olszewski later identified the play as “Bull’s-eye.” Robinson finished with nine receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown.

The Giants finished with 517 yards and never trailed in regulation. After Bates’ tying kick, Kafka remained composed on the sideline as the team prepared for overtime. The loss moved the Giants to 2-10 and 0-2 since Kafka took over. With the postseason no longer attainable, the remaining schedule will factor into how the interim coach is evaluated. Players reacted positively to his leadership, and Winston described him as “poised” and “confident.”