The New York Giants learned last season that having a team that could not hold onto a fourth quarter lead, no matter how large, that changes needed to be made. Before the season ended, the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll, who oversaw disastrous loss after disastrous loss. The team brought i a winning head coach in John Harbaugh, how had been let go by the Baltimore Ravens. Regardless of how his tenure ended, Harbaugh knows what it takes to win games and how to close out games.
They showed just that in Week 1 with a dominating win over the Cowboys, one in which they limited their opponents to just two offensive possessions in the second half. In Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans, let's just say the difficulty setting was increased, but the Giants passed the test.
Without quarterback Jaxson Dart, the Giants appeared to be cruising to a win over the winless Tennessee Titans, leading 12-0. However, the Titans came back and really threatened to steal a victory. The Titans offense, coordinated by Daboll, had the chance to win in the closing seconds of regulation in the red zone. However, safety Jevon Holland took advantage of a poor pass decision from quarterback Cam Ward for the interception. That secured the 12-7 victory.
After the game, there was a general consensus among Giants players, and that's that this team is different and they know how to close out games.
Cam Skattebo knows last year's Giants wouldn't pull off a win like they did in Week 3
Running back Cam Skattebo, who had 100 yards of scrimmage in the win, said it bluntly, and Giants fans will no doubt agree. Skattebo said, via ESPN's Jordan Raanan, that last year's Giants team would not have won this game.
"That was a great win. A year ago, we lose that game 100-percent," said Skattebo.
Skattebo shouted out defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who Harbaugh brought over upon his hiring, for getting the defense prepared for that situation. Skattebo also gave praise to Holland for "being in his playbook" and knowing where the pass from Ward was going to go.
Skattebo's sentiment of last year's team was shared by right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, who told NorthJersey.com's Art Stapleton, "we lose that game last year."
2025 Giants season showed every way they could collapse in the fourth quarter
Giants fans probably never want to look back on the 2025 season, due in part to how brutal it was. There were moments of legitimate promise, especially with quarterback Jaxson Dart starting. But if there was a way to lose a game, the Daboll-led Giants would find one.
In Week 2, the Giants held a 37-34 lead with under 30 seconds left in regulation. Yet, the Dallas Cowboys marched downfield, kicked a tying field goal at the buzzer to force overtime. Then, Brandon Aubrey kicked a game-winning 46-yard field goal at the buzzer in overtime to win.
Perhaps the worst loss was in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos. The Giants held a 19-0 lead entering the fourth quarter, and the Shane Bowen coached defense allowed the Broncos to score 33 points in the final 15 minutes of regulation. The Giants lost 33-32 in what was perhaps the most unfathomable loss in recent memory.
The straw that broke the camel's back was in Week 10, where the Giants blew a 20-10 lead in the fourth quarter and lost 24-20 to the Chicago Bears. This loss proved to be the breaking point for Giants ownership, as they fired Daboll.
In Week 12, the Giants wasted a strong performanced from Jameis Winston, which included the quarterback catching a touchdown pass. They blew a 27-17 fourth quarter lead to lose 34-27 in overtime to the Detroit Lions. That loss allowed the Giants to finally move on from Bowen.
Sure, the win against the Titans this season wasn't pretty. But there was absolutely no way that the team from last season would have won this game. In act, it would result in Giants fans being subjected to Daboll celebrating a "revenge game" win over the team that fired him. Luckily, this Giants roster and coaching staff knew when it was time to lock in and do whatever it took to secure a win. If anything, this game showed that if they clean up the mistakes they made, whether it was the penalties or the lack of success in the red zone, the wins will come much easier.
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