EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Tom Coughlin is on the hot seat again after a fateful fourth-quarter decision backfired, hurting the Giants’ playoff hopes and helping of all teams, the local rival Jets.
Ryan Fitzpatrick rallied the Jets from a late 10-point deficit after Coughlin’s decision to go on fourth down went awry. Randy Bullock kicked a 31-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime, giving the Jets a stunning 23-20 win Sunday that sent the reeling Giants to their third straight loss.
The Jets (7-5) didn’t seal the win until Josh Brown missed a 48-yard field goal field goal with 6:33 left in the extra session, his first miss in 26 attempts this season. That left many questioning Coughlin and wondering whether the Giants (5-7) are headed for a fourth straight season out of the playoffs.
A visibly frustrated Coughlin, who many feel is facing a win-or-else season, didn’t back down on his decision to go on fourth-and-2 from the Jets 4 with his team ahead 20-10 with under nine minutes to play. Rontez Miles intercepted Eli Manning’s pass and returned it to the Jets 14, starting the Giants on the road to a fifth loss in a game they squandered a fourth-quarter lead.
“If we scored there and fourth-and-2, then we push the score up to where maybe they can’t beat us with whatever,” Coughlin said. “So we’re up 17. I stand by it.”