In the wake of the New York Giants‘ stunning 33-32 collapse against the Denver Broncos in Week 7, linebacker and team captain Bobby Okereke delivered a resounding vote of confidence in defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.
Despite surrendering a franchise-worst 33 points in the fourth quarter — allowing Broncos quarterback Bo Nix to etch his name in NFL history with two passing and two rushing touchdowns — the Giants’ defense remains united.
Okereke, speaking candidly on Monday, emphasized collective accountability over finger-pointing.
“100 percent. We’re all hands on deck. We’re all bought in,” he said when asked about support for Bowen’s schemes. “Everyone’s got to look at the man in the mirror… It’s better to point the thumb and figure out what I can do better as an individual.”
Addressing the conviction required to execute every call, even amid doubt, Okereke stressed staying the course.
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“You got to have conviction. It’s the NFL, guys are great. So, if you’re playing trepidatious… you’re going to get beat,” he said. “We’re all bought in. We have great conviction, and we’re just excited to make the corrections from this loss.”
Sunday’s meltdown sparked immediate speculation about Bowen’s job security, fueled by sideline tensions — head coach Brian Daboll was seen berating the coordinator — and raw frustrations from stars like Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence, who questioned the late-game shift to soft coverage.
Yet, Daboll swiftly quashed rumors of changes on Monday.
“No, I’m not considering that. We all gotta do a better job. Starts with me,” he said.
As the Giants regroup for a pivotal stretch, Okereke’s words signal resilience in a defense ranked in the bottom third in points allowed. However, it gets no easier from here with games against the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears on tap.
