Four Quick Hits from the NY Giants’ 40-37 Loss to Dallas
Thirty-seven points should have been more than enough for the New York Giants to beat the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
But when your defense doesn’t hold up, in part due to execution and in part due to the scheme, well, then you have what happened to the Giants: a gut-wrenching 40-37 loss and a 0-2 start to a season that was once filled with so much hope.
What went wrong this week? Let’s count the ways.
The Giants had way too many of these this week. / Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
By the time the smoke cleared, the Giants had posted 14 penalties for 160 yards. Yes, you read that correctly: 14 penalties for 160 yards.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, they lost 213 additional yards that were nullified due to the penalties, such as large yardage gains. Eventually, they ran out of time to make up for all the yardage they wasted due to their own foolishness.
Breaking that down, the Giants had seven offensive penalties, six defensive, and a big one on the opening kickoff on special teams.
That penalty count did not include seven additional flags thrown that the Cowboys declined.
The Cowboys were no better, committing 12 penalties for 106 yards. But we’ll leave that for our Cowboys colleagues to dissect.
Sep 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. / Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Make that the “dead zone” because once again, the Giants struggled to convert on touchdowns. They went one of five this week, bringing their season total to one of seven.
The sad thing is their two losses haven’t been major blowouts, so just think what might have been had they been better in the dead, er, red zone.
Sep 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) runs with the ball against New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) during the fourth quarter at AT&;T Stadium. / Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
The Cowboys ran 28 times for 135 yards. That’s a 4.8 yards per carry average. The Giants don’t have the worst run defense in the league–yet.
But they’re at No. 31 and falling fast at this rate. We’re not sure why this is, at least not this week, and having not looked at the film, but this defense better find an answer sooner than later.
When four of your team's top tacklers are from the defensive secondary, as was the case of the Giants this week, it's only fair to ask what the guys up front were doing--or is that what they weren't doing?
New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas will hopefulyl be back next weekend. / Kevin Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
I have no idea if Andrew Thomas is going to be ready to go next weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs (I think he has a pretty good chance of returning then, barring any setbacks this week).
But this team cannot trot James Hudson III out there anymore at left tackle, not after this week’s performance.
There's being aggressive and there is being smart. Hudson was the former but not necessarily the latter, and even head coach Brian Daboll, who tends to give guys the benefit of the doubt, had enough after Hudson committed four penalties on the team’s opening drive that forced them to settle for a field goal.
Dolphins’ Defensive Struggles Mirror Joe Barry’s Troubling Past in Green Bay
When a coach with a controversial track record joins a new team, their performance is placed under immediate scrutiny. For many Green Bay Packers fans, the name Joe Barry is synonymous with a defensive philosophy that often felt frustratingly passive. The news that Barry had landed with the Miami Dolphins as their linebackers and run game coordinator was met with a sense of knowing trepidation by his former critics. Now, with the NFL season underway, the Dolphins’ defensive struggles are raising familiar questions about Barry’s impact.
While Barry is not the defensive coordinator in Miami, his influence on the linebacker corps and run defense is significant. The team’s poor performance in these areas has not gone unnoticed, and for those who followed his tenure in Green Bay, the results look eerily familiar. The Dolphins’ defense is currently facing significant challenges, and the statistics paint a troubling picture that aligns with a career-long trend for the veteran coach.
Green Bay Packers Fans Are All Too Familiar With Joe Barry
Joe Barry’s time as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers from 2021 to 2023 was marked by consistent fan frustration. Despite having a roster loaded with first-round talent, his defenses were often criticized for playing a soft, “bend-don’t-break” style that allowed opposing offenses to dictate the terms of engagement. The scheme frequently gave up easy completions underneath and struggled to get off the field on third down, leading to long, sustained drives that wore down the defense.
This approach was particularly maddening for a fanbase that saw Pro Bowl talent at every level of the defense. The disconnect between the talent on the field and the results on the scoreboard ultimately led to his departure from Green Bay. His defenses, while occasionally posting respectable total yardage numbers, often failed to make critical stops in key moments. This history has created a narrative that follows him, one where his units look good on paper but fail to play with the aggressive, game-changing style that modern NFL defenses require.
The Dolphins’ Defensive Woes in 2025
The Miami Dolphins brought in a new defensive staff to elevate a unit that has its own share of high-end talent. However, the early returns have been alarming. Through the first part of the season, the Dolphins’ defense ranks among the worst in the league in several critical categories, particularly in the areas under Barry’s purview.
According to the latest NFL defensive rankings from Fox Sports, the numbers are stark:
- Total Defense: The Dolphins are ranked 29th, allowing an average of 418 yards per game.
- Scoring Defense:They are also 29th in points allowed, surrendering 33 points per game.
- Rushing Defense: The run defense, a key responsibility for Barry, is ranked 27th, giving up 156 yards per game.
These statistics are not just numbers on a page; they represent a fundamental inability to stop opposing teams. The struggles in the run game are particularly concerning, as a weak run defense puts immense pressure on the secondary and makes it difficult to control the clock. For a team with championship aspirations like the Dolphins, having a defense that is consistently on its heels is an unsustainable formula for success. The high number of yards and points allowed suggests a systemic issue, and it’s a pattern that closely mirrors the criticisms leveled against Barry’s units in the past.
Is History Repeating Itself?
While it is unfair to place all of the blame on one position coach, Barry’s role as the run game coordinator makes the team’s struggles in that area impossible to ignore. His career has been marked by stops where his defenses have underachieved relative to their talent level. His first defensive coordinator stint with the Detroit Lions in 2007-08 was a disaster, and his time in Washington from 2015-16 produced similarly uninspiring results.
The recurring theme is a defensive philosophy that appears to prioritize preventing the big play over aggressively attacking the offense. This often results in allowing opponents to methodically move the ball down the field, controlling possession and wearing down the defense. In Miami, we are seeing this play out again. The defense is not just giving up yards; it is failing to create negative plays or force turnovers at a rate needed to win consistently.
For the Dolphins, the hope was that a new coaching staff could unlock the potential of a talented group. Instead, the early season struggles have brought a familiar sense of disappointment. Joe Barry’s presence on the staff, combined with the team’s porous run defense and overall poor statistical rankings, suggests that a change in scenery has not necessarily led to a change in results. The pressure is mounting in Miami, and the defensive coaching staff, including Barry, will need to find answers quickly before the season slips away.
