Monday morning brought the axe.

It didn’t matter that the New York Giants looked competent for three quarters against a powerhouse Detroit Lions team. It didn’t matter that they nearly scraped out a win that would have defied the oddsmakers. When the defense collapsed late, interim head coach Mike Kafka didn’t wait for the film session to make a statement. He fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen before lunch.

This is a bold move. Kafka is handing the keys to outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen—a guy he and GM Joe Schoen hand-picked—to run the defense for the remainder of the year. It shows decisiveness. It shows that Kafka isn’t just keeping the seat warm; he is trying to actually lead. Ownership has to be impressed by the backbone he is showing during a lost season.

But let’s b

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