CHICAGO — The Giants re-lived their worst nightmare.
Just like three weeks ago in Denver, the Giants’ defense blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead after dictating play for three quarters.
Only this time, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart wasn’t around to keep punching back because he failed a concussion test between the third and fourth quarters. Head coach Brian Daboll’s lack of faith in benched veteran Russell Wilson (and Wilson’s own hesitancy) was apparent.
The question now is whether Daboll and/or defensive coordinator Shane Bowen can survive another collapse punctuated by allowing two touchdowns in the final four minutes of a 24-20 loss to the Bears at blustery Soldier Field.
Caleb Williams ran for the go-ahead 17-yard touchdown with 1:47 to go after he used his legs on a long run down to the 2-yard line on the previous drive. Williams tossed a two-yard touchdown to Rome Odunze to start the comeback.
Daboll’s most regrettable mistake was kicking a field goal from the 1-yard line with 10:19 remaining. Sure, it put the Giants ahead by two scores, 20-10, but that’s nothing in today’s NFL – especially with a defense with no idea how to close out games.
The defense even made a fourth-down stop – its third of the game – with a 10-point lead, but that wasn’t enough.
The Bears drove 91 yards in 2:17 for a touchdown to make things tense, and the Giants went into an offensive shell. A three-and-out ended with Wilson taking an 11-yard punt and Wilson’s mistake was compounded by Jamie Gillan shanking a 26-yard punt.
It was only 21 days prior that the Giants allowed 33 fourth-quarter points and blew a 19-point lead in a season-changing loss to the Broncos. Both meltdowns are now part of the Giants’ franchise-record-tying 10-game road losing streak.
Playing with third-string running backs and receivers and through sideways snow flurries, Dart was nearly perfect for three quarters as he racked up 308 yards from scrimmage and ran for two touchdowns.
But Wilson reminded everyone why he was benched after Week 3 as he threw four straight incompletions to end the game and seal the fate of the Giants (2-8). Wilson finished with 45 passing yards, but 41 were made on a catch-and-run by Devin Singletary, who made the biggest play of the drive that led to the Giants kicking an 18-yard field goal to take a 20-10 lead.
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