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.

Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, out for the season with a torn ACL, ripped interim head coach Mike Kafka — without naming him — after Sunday’s 34-27 overtime loss at the Lions. While watching from home, Nabers didn’t like what he saw from Kafka — who still calls offensive plays — late in the game.

President Donald Trump was not a fan of Mike Kafka's controversial play-calling in the New York Giants' loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 12.

The first sign of trouble came with the play called for the 3rd-and-2 conversion attempt. The Giants, who sent in offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie as part of the jumbo package, ran running back Devin Singletary to the left end, where he was promptly dropped for a loss of four yards by Aiden Hutchinson.

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 interim head coach Mike Kafka explains why nose tackle Dexter Lawrence was sidelined during a back-breaking moment in overtime.

Then Kafka nailed his second trick-play touchdown pass of the day — a reverse to Gunner Olszewski, who threw across the field to Winston. The quarterback slipped out of a tackle attempt and skipped into the end zone for a 33-yard score and 27-17 lead with 12:16 to go.