The Detroit Lions walked out of MetLife Stadium with one of the most dramatic wins of their season, but the real explosion arrived after the game — and it came from someone who wasn’t even on the field. Moments after Jahmyr Gibbs ripped off a 69-yard walk-off touchdown in overtime to complete a stunning comeback over the New York Giants, injured star wide receiver Malik Nabers ignited a firestorm on social media. A now-deleted X post from the rookie instantly became the biggest headline of the night, overshadowing even the Lions’ thrilling 34–27 victory.
The Giants had controlled the game for three quarters, even building three different 10-point leads. But as has happened far too often this season, New York unraveled late. Detroit stormed back with 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and forced overtime on a 59-yard field goal. Giants fans had barely processed the collapse when Gibbs delivered the knockout blow on the very first play of OT — a burst up the middle that silenced the stadium and sent the Lions to 7–4. For Detroit, it was a season-saving win. For the Giants, it was a familiar heartbreak. And for Nabers, watching helplessly from home, it was the last straw.
Within minutes of the final whistle, Nabers posted a blistering message questioning the competence — and even the motives — of New York’s coaching staff. “Sometimes I think they b makin us lose on purpose!” he wrote, before outlining his frustrations with a fourth-quarter sequence that had baffled fans and analysts alike. The Giants faced a goal-to-go situation with under three minutes left and a three-point lead, but interim head coach Mike Kafka called two straight incomplete passes, stopping the clock and saving the Lions’ timeouts. The Giants then went for it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal that would have forced Detroit to score a touchdown.
The post didn’t last long — Nabers deleted it within minutes — but the screenshots spread instantly. His frustration was understandable: the Giants have now lost five games this season after leading in the fourth quarter, including an 18-point meltdown against Denver. Nabers, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 4, has remained intensely invested in the team’s performances, often reacting live on social media. But this time, his reaction was explosive enough to draw attention from across the NFL. Former players debated whether he crossed the line. Analysts revisited the play-calling sequence in slow motion. Giants fans demanded answers. And the organization was suddenly thrust into crisis mode.
Kafka defended his decisions in the postgame press conference, insisting the team was “trying to be aggressive” and needed to keep scoring to keep pace with Detroit’s dangerous offense. But that explanation did little to calm the outrage, especially after Gibbs shredded New York for 264 total yards and three touchdowns, proving Detroit was more than capable of flipping a game in a single drive. The staff’s refusal to take the easy points late — points that likely would have iced the game — became the biggest talking point of the night, overshadowing even Gibbs’ career performance.
Meanwhile, inside the Lions locker room, the mood was very different. Dan Campbell praised his team’s resilience and emphasized the must-win nature of the game. “We made the plays we had to make,” he said. “That very easily could’ve gone the other way — but it didn’t.” From Detroit’s standpoint, the comeback was a testament to grit, adjustment, and trust in their playmakers. From New York’s perspective, it was a continuation of a season that has spiraled into self-doubt, inconsistency, and now, public finger-pointing from one of their brightest young stars.
Nabers has not commented again since deleting his post, but the damage — and the conversation — continues. League insiders speculate that the Giants’ front office will privately address the situation, given the sensitivity around a player accusing his coaching staff of intentional losing. Others argue that Nabers simply said what many fans have been thinking as New York slips further in the standings and closer to a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Either way, the controversy has taken on a life of its own, overshadowing both teams’ trajectories.
As the dust settles, the Lions leave New York reinvigorated and firmly back in the NFC North race. The Giants, however, leave with more questions than answers. And Malik Nabers — even from the sideline — has ensured that those questions will not go away anytime soon. In a season where wins are scarce, the Giants have now found themselves battling not just opponents, but their own internal storms. Detroit may have won the game, but the fallout in New York may last far longer than the final score.
