Part 6/10:
Most shockingly, a defense that had performed valiantly through three quarters completely disintegrated in the fourth. Despite remaining in a strong position—up 19-0 heading into the final quarter—the Giants surrendered 33 points in that period. This kind of meltdown is nearly unprecedented in NFL history and pointed directly to lapses in defensive discipline and preparation.
Critics argued that the defensive players, who had been playing at a high level, were simply overwhelmed. However, the coaching staff's failure to adjust and the defensive scheme's inability to contain Denver's attack contributed heavily. The fact that the team did not learn from their previous mistakes—particularly from the Dallas game—was cited as a glaring coaching failure that sealed their fate.