The snow fell steadily at Soldier Field, and for most of three quarters, the Giants looked ready to exorcise their fourth-quarter demons. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was once again rewriting NFL record books, the defense was holding its own, and New York carried a ten-point lead into the final frame. But just as it has too many times this season, the ending unraveled in familiar, gut-wrenching fashion.
Chicago rallied for 14 unanswered points, turning a 17-10 deficit into a 24-20 victory and handing the Giants their fourth straight loss. The defeat dropped New York to 2-8, while the Bears improved to 6-3 and continued their late-game magic under first-year coach Ben Johnson.
A Historic Day Cut Short
Before the collapse, Jaxson Dart was putting together one of his finest performances. The rookie became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for a touchdown in five consecutive games, surpassing Cam Newton’s 2011 record. He added a second rushing score early in the third quarter, giving him seven on the season.
Through the air, Dart was equally sharp—completing 11 of his first 12 passes and finishing 19-of-29 for 242 yards before a hard hit forced him out with a concussion. His exit came moments after a fumble caused by C.J. Gardner-Johnson flipped momentum squarely in Chicago’s favor.
“Ten-point lead there in the fourth quarter, and give them credit,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll after the game. “The quarterback made a lot of plays—a lot of loose plays, scramble plays. Just didn’t get the job done.”
Wilson Returns, but the Script Remains the Same
When Dart was ruled out, veteran Russell Wilson took the field for his first snaps since Week 6. At that point, New York still led 17-10. Wilson quickly engineered a drive that reached the 1-yard line, thanks to a 41-yard catch-and-run by Devin Singletary and a series of short completions to Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger.
But instead of putting the game away, the Giants settled for a short field goal. That failure to finish proved costly.
“You always want to score a touchdown there,” Wilson admitted. “That was a huge drive for us. We needed a touchdown there. We knocked in a field goal… but you always want six in that situation.”
Chicago seized the opening. Caleb Williams marched his team 75 yards, escaping pressure time and again—including a 29-yard scramble—to set up a short touchdown to Rome Odunze that trimmed the Giants’ lead to three. After a 26-yard punt by Jamie Gillan gave the Bears another short field, Williams sprinted into the end zone himself from 17 yards out to give Chicago the win.
Another Fourth-Quarter Letdown
For the fourth straight week, New York was outscored in the fourth quarter—this time by 11 points, part of a staggering 75 fourth-quarter points allowed during their losing streak. Daboll acknowledged the trend but refused to pin it on one play or phase.
“There were a number of things today. All three phases just didn’t get the job done,” he said. “(Defensive Coordinator) Shane Bowen tried to mix it—zone, pressure, man—but those two plays that Caleb got out were man. There were a number of plays. We had to punt. That gave them a short field.”
The numbers back up the frustration: the Giants failed to register a sack despite consistent pressure, surrendered 171 rushing yards, and allowed Williams to dictate tempo late.
Linebacker Brian Burns, who entered the game leading the NFL in sacks, was neutralized by Chicago’s offensive front, while Jevón Holland and Cor’Dale Flott’s returns to the secondary couldn’t spark the unit when it mattered most.
Bright Spots Amid the Snow
Not all was bleak. Darius Slayton delivered his best half of the year with 85 yards before halftime, including a spectacular one-handed grab that set up Dart’s first touchdown. Theo Johnson continued his rise with career highs of seven receptions and 75 yards. And though the ground game sputtered early, Tyrone Tracy Jr. finished strong with 71 yards on 14 carries.
Special teams provided mixed results. Newly signed kicker Younghoe Koo went a perfect 2-for-2 on field goals in his Giants debut, while punter Jamie Gillan’s late mis-hit swung the game’s final momentum. “There were a number of plays,” Daboll said, underscoring the breakdowns that plagued the closing minutes.
A Locker Room Searching for Answers
When asked what he told the team afterward, Daboll’s tone was one of frustration mixed with loyalty.
“They’re tough losses, they really are,” he said. “We put so much into it. The coaches put so much into it, the players. It’s painful when you have these endings. You stick together—and that’s what you have to do.”
Wilson echoed the same sentiment, referencing earlier heartbreaks.
“There’s been some really tough games this year where we’ve taken the lead late,” he said. “Part of that’s just fundamental execution—making one more play than them. We’ve just got to play cleaner football down the road.”
Looking Ahead
At 2-8, the Giants’ margin for error has vanished. The team returns home to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 11 before trips to Detroit and New England leading into their bye. With Dart’s concussion status uncertain, Daboll faces another difficult week of decisions—balancing player safety, development, and a roster desperate for a win.
“I believe in the guys we have,” Daboll insisted. “We’ve got to start doing it.”
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the locker room hasn’t fractured. But the pattern of late-game collapses looms larger by the week. In a season once filled with promise around a dynamic young quarterback, the Giants now face their toughest opponent yet: themselves.
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