Big Blue View
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.
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.
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...
