The New York Giants fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen after their 34–27 loss in Detroit, a game in which the defense capitulated yet another ten-point fourth-quarter lead. Now, with one game before the bye week, outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen steps in as the interim defensive coordinator under interim head coach Mike Kafka.
Bullen now gets a primetime stage — Monday Night Football — to deliver something the Giants have desperately needed during this six-game losing streak: a statement! The Giants’ defense has become synonymous with predictability, comical collapses, and they’ve seemingly developed an allergy to winning. However, New York could shock the football world with an upset road victory against one of the best teams in the NFL, the New England Patriots.
The teams have inverse records: the Giants are 2–10, while the Patriots sit at 10–2. New England currently holds the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The game marks the first December contest; the Patriots are favored by 7.5 points, and the Over/Under is 46.6 points.
Dexter Lawrence heads long injury list
The Giants have been battered with injuries on defense. Dexter Lawrence (elbow), Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder), and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (neck/knee) would not have participated if the Giants had practiced on Thursday. Cornerback Paulson Adebo (knee) has missed five straight games, safety Tyler Nubin (neck) has missed two and cornerback/kickoff returner Deonte Banks missed last week’s game. All three were listed as limited.
The Patriots’ offense suffered a few injuries in their 26-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Star rookie left tackle Will Campbell will be sidelined with a knee injury. Rookie third-round left guard Jared Wilson, who is playing well this season, left Week 12 with an ankle injury and appears unlikely to play on Monday.
Patriots’ offense by the numbers
Josh McDaniels took Drake Maye to another level in the young star’s second season. Maye is currently second in MVP odds at +220; Matt Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams is first. Maye has completed 252 of 355 passing (71%) for 3,130 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has 307 yards on the ground with two rushing touchdowns. His ability to see the field, find solutions, throw with anticipation, and allow his receivers to effectively create yards after the catch is beyond impressive for a 23-year-old.
The Patriots average 26.5 points per game, which ranks seventh in the NFL. They average 359.9 yards per game (eighth in the NFL). They’re 19th in rushing yards per game (112.4 RYPG) and are sixth in passing yards per game (247.5 PYPG). The Patriots have the seventh-best efficiency on third down (42. 36%), and are 20th in red zone touchdown percentage (54.76%).
Stefon Diggs is the Patriots’ leading receiver with 61 catches on 74 targets for 679 yards with three touchdowns. Tight end Hunter Henry caught 41 of 59 for 537 yards with five touchdowns, and Kayshon Boutte secured 25 of 33 for 446 yards with five touchdowns as well.
Shifty weapon, Demario Douglas, has 24 catches on 33 targets for 369 yards with three touchdowns. Mack Hollins is the physical blocking wide receiver with 32 catches on 43 targets for 417 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Rookie Kyle Williams, who was earning snaps over the two weeks prior to Week 12, took a step back to Kayshon Boutte, who returned from injury.
The primary 11 personnel package for New England is Diggs, Hollins, and Boutte, although head coach Mike Vrabal and his staff will use different combinations. Veteran tight end Austin Hooper is behind Henry, and Jack Westover is used as a move-tight end/full-back.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson broke out of his shell when Rhamondre Stevenson was shelved for three weeks. The veteran returned to the lineup in Week 12 and played just 31% of snaps to Henderson’s 65%.
Both Campbell and Wilson — the entire left side of the Patriots’ offensive line — were injured early against the Bengals. Vederian Lowe, who started for the Patriots in 2024, played 30 snaps after Campbell’s injury and surrendered two pressures. He gave up five sacks and 33 pressures in 501 pass blocking snaps last year. It appears he’ll start in Week 13.
Ben Brown played 68 snaps after Wilson’s early injury at left guard. Brown surrendered two pressures and a quarterback hit. The offensive line is a unit playing well. Morgan Moses is the starting right tackle, and he’s allowed 21 pressures and one sack. Mike Onwenu starts at right guard (18 pressures, one sack), and Garrett Bradbury is the starting center (18 pressures, four hits, zero sacks). Moses can get grabby and has been flagged six times this season.
Patriots’ offensive rankings
Total Yards Per Game: 359.9 | 8th
Rushing Yards Per Game: 112.4 | 19th
Passing Yards Per Game: 247.5 | 6th
First Downs Per Game: 20.5 | 12th
Third Down Conversion Rate: 42.36% | 7th
Fourth Down Conversion Rate: 76.47% | 3rd
Red Zone - TD Rate: 54.76% | 20thAverage Time of Possession: 31:37 | T-6th
Points Per Game: 26.5 | 7th
What can Charlie Bullen do differently?
Bullen presents an opportunity for something new, a different play-calling style with his own tendencies. Still, the Giants aren’t going to change their defensive philosophy fundamentally; they’ll still be bound to Bowen’s defense, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be perceivable changes. Bullen could display a more deceptive approach with pressure.
Bullen coached under current Broncos’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph in Miami and Arizona. Joseph is adaptive as a coordinator, and it always appears he fits his scheme to his players, not the other way around. Joseph also devises game plans specific to opponents, but one theme is consistent with Joseph: disrupt the pocket!
The Giants should relentlessly attack the right side of the Patriots’ line of scrimmage. Injuries may alter the Giants’ personnel, but Bullen should try to alter the defense’s look as much as possible to confuse Maye.
Henderson is not Jahmyr Gibbs, but the two possess similar game-breaking speed. Assignment and tackling sound football must be a priority; New York has struggled to execute both all season. The defense needs to refresh its fundamentals with a new voice, possibly more pressure. However, focusing on continuity and the run defense is still something that must be stressed at a fundamental level.
The Patriots don’t have a single receiver or offensive weapon that the Giants must game-plan around. Maye is a distributor of the football with a fractured left side of his offensive line. Bullen presents a fresh new look at play-calling, one that hopefully dictates and is adaptive.
Final thoughts
The Giants could make an impression on the NFL world, and, perhaps more importantly, on the ownership of the Giants, with an upset win in Foxborough, Massachusetts, ahead of their Week 14 BYE week. This is Mike Kafka’s third game as head coach, with Charlie Bullen assuming the defensive coordinator responsibility for the first time. The right side of New England’s offensive line is hurt and that could pose a problem for the 10-2 Patriots with the Giants’ talented defensive front. The Giants have fought in every game. They’re not a roll-over type of team. I expect a competitive matchup where the Giants could seize victory. But, until they prove it, I question their ability to finish.