Giants star Brian Burns fumed: "You ALL misunderstood my criticism of Bowen – This is the TRUTH!"
Giants star Brian Burns fumed: "You ALL misunderstood my criticism of Bowen – This is the TRUTH!"
New York Giants edge rusher Brian Burns is setting the record straight after a heated tunnel moment went viral following their heartbreaking 33-32 Week 7 loss to the Denver Broncos. Fans and media speculated Burns was ripping defensive coordinator Shane Bowen for a late-game blunder—leaving eight in coverage yet still allowing a 29-yard bomb. But Burns insists it’s all a misunderstanding: “Everyone got that tunnel video totally wrong. I wasn’t mad at Shane or his calls—I was just frustrated with the loss overall.” He emphasized his full support for Bowen, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan.
The Giants blew a 19-point fourth-quarter lead as Bo Nix and the Broncos mounted an epic comeback, capped by a 39-yard field goal as time expired. Burns’ frustration boiled over when Denver hit Marvin Mims Jr. for 29 yards despite heavy coverage, setting up the game-winner. It highlighted ongoing defensive woes for a unit ranked 29th in yards allowed, but Burns clarified his rant was about execution, not strategy.
“They twisted everything I said — I fought for the team, not against the coach. People need to hear the whole story.”
Just days earlier, Burns had praised Bowen’s aggressive schemes during their Thursday Night Football win over the Eagles. “He dialed up more blitzes and moved guys around—it shut down Jalen Hurts,” Burns noted. That approach worked wonders, holding Philly in check and showing Bowen’s potential to unleash the Giants’ talent.
Against Denver, though, Bowen reverted to a passive style—rushing just three or four and using vanilla coverages. It left the defense exposed, allowing Nix to pick them apart. Critics blasted the conservative play-calling, but Burns defended it as a team issue: “We need to execute better in crunch time, regardless of the scheme.”
A glaring mistake? Star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II—arguably the Giants’ best defender—was mysteriously benched for that pivotal 29-yard play. Bowen took responsibility but offered no explanation, leaving fans scratching their heads. With Lawrence’s disruptive presence missing, Denver exploited the gap easily.
Looking ahead, Burns is battling hip and foot injuries but vows to suit up against the Eagles in Week 8 at Lincoln Financial Field on October 26. Leading the NFL with nine pass-rush wins, his return could spark a turnaround. If Bowen leans aggressive and deploys his playmakers wisely, the Giants’ defense might finally live up to the hype—or risk more meltdowns in a sinking 2-5 season.
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