The New York Giants suffered yet another heartbreaking loss, losing 34-27 to the Detroit Lions despite leading 27-17 in the fourth quarter. It has become a norm for this team to have a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter before squandering it away.
What made this latest loss more baffling was that team captain and star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence wasn't on the field in overtime, where the Lions scored an immediate touchdown on a 69-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs.
After the game, interim head coach Mike Kafka said that Lawrence was "nicked up" during the game, and was limiting him to playing just third downs. But one day later, Kafka provided further clarification.
Speaking to reporters shortly after firing defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Kafka was asked about what went into the decision to keep Lawrence off the field during the game. Kafka then revealed just how upset Lawrence was to not be able to take the field regularly, to the point where he was in tears.
Mike Kafka says that Dexter Lawrence was in tears on the Giants' sideline because he wanted to be on the field with his teammates down the stretch of yesterday's game: pic.twitter.com/W09hM93ivA
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) November 24, 2025
Mike Kafka admits Dexter Lawrence was 'in tears' after being limited in Giants loss to Lions
"He was a guy that was battling through this game, this injury, and probably just tough it out for us and was just trying to give us everything he had," said Kafka. "The decision was to just play him in pass situations, second-and-longs, third-and-longs, so he can be a factor on a limited snap count. I thought that was the right thing to do and handle him, and hat's off to Dexter for toughing it out and working through that because he got dinged up. This guy was like in tears on the sideline, just wanted to be out there with the players and give us his all."
As the game was still going on, fans and media members alike were baffled as to why Lawrence wasn't on the field during a crucial point in the game. Even when explained that the defensive lineman was "nicked up," some were still critical of the decision to keep Lawrence off the field. But now, hearing that Lawrence was in tears on the sidelines because he was too hurt to play every down should change the tune of that.
Jordan Raanan of ESPN pointed out that Lawrence typically plays around 70 percent of defensive snaps. But facing the Lions, Lawrence played in 33-of-65 snaps. In those limited snaps, Lawrence recorded just one tackle.
Fans will have to wait and see if Lawrence will be hindered by this ailment in the lead-up to the team's game next Monday against the New England Patriots. If he is healthy and ready to go, it will be interesting to see how he is utilized with Bowen no longer calling the shots. Instead, it will be outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen serving as the interim defensive coordinator.