The New York Giants' catastrophic 33-32 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 7 wasn't just another blown lead – it was a damning indictment of head coach Brian Daboll's tenure that has reached a breaking point. Allowing 33 fourth-quarter points after shutting out Denver for three quarters represents the kind of historic collapse that exposes fundamental coaching failures. With the Giants now sitting at 2-5 and having witnessed their rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart experience one of the most devastating defeats in franchise history, the time has come for ownership to acknowledge that Daboll's leadership has become a liability rather than an asset.
The Numbers Don't Lie: A Pattern of Failure
Daboll's overall record as Giants head coach tells a sobering story that goes far beyond Sunday's meltdown. Currently sitting at 20-36-1 in the regular season, his .357 winning percentage ranks among the worst in franchise history. After his surprising 2022 Coach of the Year campaign that produced a 9-7 record and playoff berth, the Giants have gone just 11-29 under his guidance – a collapse that mirrors the fourth-quarter disaster against Denver.
The statistical breakdown reveals the depth of the organizational dysfunction. Since that magical 2022 season, Daboll's Giants have started 1-4 or worse six times in the last 10 seasons, the most in the NFL. This pattern of poor starts, combined with an inability to maintain leads when they do emerge, demonstrates a coaching staff that lacks both the preparation to begin seasons strong and the in-game management skills to close out victories.
Sunday's collapse wasn't an outlier – it was the inevitable result of systematic failures that have plagued this coaching staff. The Giants' defense, which had dominated for three quarters, allowed 227 of Denver's 407 total yards in the final frame alone. This wasn't simply players making mistakes; it was a complete breakdown of game management, defensive adjustments, and situational awareness that falls squarely on the coaching staff.
Game Management and Strategic Failures
The Broncos game exposed Daboll's most glaring weakness: his inability to manage games when victory appears assured. Leading 19-0 entering the fourth quarter and later 26-8 with less than six minutes remaining, the Giants possessed win probabilities exceeding 99% according to advanced analytics. Teams in these situations had won 1,602 consecutive games before Sunday's historic collapse – a streak that ended on Daboll's watch.
The defensive play-calling in the final moments particularly drew the ire of veteran players like Brian Burns, who was visibly furious about the decision to drop eight defenders into coverage on Denver's final drive. This conservative approach gave Broncos quarterback Bo Nix the time he needed to find open receivers and orchestrate the game-winning field goal. Such decision-making represents the kind of coaching that prioritizes playing not to lose over playing to win – a mentality that has defined Daboll's tenure since 2022.
Shane Bowen’s defense on first and 10 with 30 seconds left when Denver only needs 30 yards to get into field goal range. pic.twitter.com/Xgmeyk2pwK
— Giants 366 (@Giants366) October 20, 2025
The Giants' offensive execution also crumbled under pressure, with missed extra points and failed two-point conversions contributing to the narrow margin that made Denver's comeback possible. While kicker Graham Gano shouldered responsibility for his misses, the coaching staff's inability to address these fundamental execution issues speaks to broader systematic problems within the organization.
Quarterback Development and Future Concerns
Perhaps most concerning is how this collapse affects Jaxson Dart's development as the franchise quarterback of the future. Selected 25th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Dart showed flashes of brilliance throughout the game before throwing a crucial late interception that helped seal the defeat. The rookie threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns, demonstrating the arm talent and poise that made him an intriguing prospect.
Everyone is gonna blame the kicker for this Giants' loss but this INT by Jaxson Dart was as big of disaster as those missed kicks.
If Brian Daboll call a run play and punt it deep, #Giants win the game.pic.twitter.com/u0UrQ2x4KJ
— 𝐃𝐞𝐱 (@OldSchool_NFL) October 19, 2025
However, Dart's post-game comments revealed the psychological damage inflicted by such a devastating loss. “It sucks,” he said simply, adding “It's just a loss that shouldn't have happened”. For a young quarterback still learning to navigate the NFL, experiencing such a historic collapse can create lasting confidence issues that impact long-term development.
The Giants cannot afford to waste Dart's rookie contract years under a coaching staff that has proven incapable of maximizing talent or creating winning environments. With the franchise having cycled through multiple quarterbacks during Daboll's tenure – from Daniel Jones to Tommy DeVito to Drew Lock and now Dart – the pattern suggests coaching rather than personnel as the primary issue.
The pressure on Dart to succeed immediately has only intensified after this collapse, with analysts already questioning whether he's ready for the demands of being a franchise quarterback. A competent coaching staff would shield their rookie quarterback from such pressure while building systems that maximize his dual-threat capabilities. Instead, Daboll's staff has created an environment where a promising young player must carry the weight of organizational dysfunction.
The writing is on the wall for Brian Daboll's tenure with the New York Giants. Sunday's historic collapse against Denver wasn't an aberration – it was the culmination of three years of declining performance, poor game management, and systematic failures that have made the Giants one of the NFL's most disappointing franchises. With a talented rookie quarterback in Jaxson Dart and a defense capable of dominating elite opponents for three quarters, the pieces exist for success. What's missing is the leadership to put those pieces together consistently.
