Sometime around 5 o’clock Sunday, the Giants' interim coach was asked if he still had “full confidence’’ in the team's embattled defensive coordinator.

Kafka, who told reporters after the Giants blew a 10-point lead against Detroit that Lawrence was nicked up and that they were saving him for obvious pass-rushing situations, said that Lawrence was “in tears” on the sideline when he was kept off the field during crunch time.

Mike Kafka saw no point in second-guessing himself. In his second game as the New York Giants interim coach, Kafka made a bold decision that ended up costing his team.

Yes, the Giants lost, but the interim coach's plays mirrored a mindset of the 49ers coaching legend and Kafka's counterpart in Detroit.

New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II was a notable no-show on Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs’ 69-yard game-winning touchdown run, causing spectators to wonder why. Lawrence, it turns out, was battling through an injury he suffered during the game, according to interim head coach Mike Kafka.

Mike Kafka did not admit this on another Bloody Monday for the Giants. The interim head coach was not going to come out and say he no longer trusted Shane Bowen as the defensive coordinator of a team that does not actually defend much of anything. The closest Kafka came to a critique was this: “The results just weren’t where we wanted them to be’’

New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka is gambling that Charlie Bullen can round the defense back into shape.

The New York Giants and interim head coach Mike Kafka fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen and named an "interesting" replacement.

The staredown called for Skattebo to shove a wrestler backward to the floor before a mini “melee” broke out that saw the wrestlers and the Giants players throwing soft punches at one another in a scene that was over before it really had a chance to get going.