New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka has faced some criticism over a fourth-down attempt in a 34-27 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field.
Nursing a three-point lead with 2:59 remaining in the game, Kafka opted for aggression and called a pass play on fourth-and-goal from the Detroit six-yard line. Quarterback Jameis Winston’s attempt fell incomplete, and the Giants turned the ball over on downs.
On the subsequent series, the Lions drove 53 yards over 13 plays, connecting on a game-tying 59-yard field goal — tied for the longest in Lions franchise history and setting a career-long for kicker Jake Bates.
In overtime, the Lions scored on one play — a 69-yard Jahmyr Gibbs run — before stopping the Giants on downs to win the game.
In hindsight, many believe Kafka made the wrong decision and should have opted for a field goal, forcing the Lions to score a touchdown and convert a point-after attempt for the victory. Among them is President Donald Trump, who voiced his criticism in a Truth Social post.
“Why did the New York Football Giants (NFL) not kick that Field Goal??? Who would have done such a thing?” Trump wrote. “It was CRAZY! I got to watch the end of the game and thought, when they went for the touchdown instead of the 3, ‘That’s Weird!!!'”
Hindsight is always 20/20, and it’s easy to question Kafka because of the result, but it’s clear he didn’t trust Shane Bowen’s defense and rightfully so. The Giants had collapsed in a similar spot four other times this season, so Kafka opted to rely on Winston and the offense as opposed to Bowen and the defense.
Had Kafka gone for a field goal and Younghoe Koo converted, the Lions would have had 2:59 remaining to drive the field and score a touchdown — something it took them just three plays to do on their previous offensive series.
Some approve of Kafka’s decision (present company included), and others do not. Trump has picked his side.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: President Trump slams Mike Kafka’s controversial Giants decision: ‘Crazy’
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
