Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions (6-4) and New York Giants (2-9) will square off in a Week 12 battle at Ford Field. While the Lions will be looking to get back to their winning ways, the Giants are trying to salvage what looks like a lost season.
“This team has been in a ton of these games,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. “And a few of these games, they’ve been up a couple of scores and lost a tight one there a few times. And so they’ve been in most of these games, had a chance to win them, they’re competitive, they play hard. It’s a good unit. I know they made the change a week ago, but they had a chance last week again in that game.”
Ahead of Week 11, the Giants elected to fire head coach Brian Daboll and replace him with offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Mike Kafka. While Kafka’s (Andy Reid, Matt Nagy) background is different than Daboll’s (Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels), it’s difficult to change too much of the playbook mid-season. However, Kafka appears to know what’s on the line and has taken a more aggressive approach to offense, including starting the game on offense (where they took a 7-0 lead), going for it four times on fourth down, and reportedly would’ve gone for two and the win, if they’d scored late in the Packers game.
Let’s take a closer look at the Giants’ coaching staff, the scheme they run, and some scouting notes from previously viewed games.
NFL seasons as a Quarterback: 5 seasons (Eagles, Patriots, Jaguars, Bucs, Vikings, Titans, Bengals)
NFL coaching seasons: Nine (Chiefs 2017-2021, Giants 2022-present)
Head coaching seasons: None
Previous role with Giants: Offensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach (2022-present)
Influences: Andy Reid, Brian Daboll, Matt Nagy, Doug Pederson (as a coach), Pat Fitzgerald (college)
Playcaller: Yes
Of note: Kafka was, at times, relieved of his play-calling duties by Daboll in 2023, only to lose them fully in 2024. In 2025, Kafka reassumed that responsibility, only to have Daboll reportedly threaten to take over again in the days before his firing. Kafka will continue to call plays moving forward.
Dan Campbell on playing behind an interim head coach:
“I mean I think there was some fresh energy last week when you watched them against Green Bay. I think sometimes it’s just that newness and you don’t know how long that could possibly last or the rebound on it. But I think just the change itself – something a little bit different, a little bit new, can spark you. And so, yeah, there was a little bit of that. […] And there again, they had a chance to beat Green Bay and just couldn’t finish it out there.”
NFL coaching seasons: 12 seasons (Texans 2014-21, Titans 2022-23, Giants 2024-present)
Offensive coordinator seasons: 4 seasons (Texans 2019-21, Titans 2023)
Previous role with the Giants: Tight ends coach (2024-present)
Influences:...
