Kafka's Ballsy Gamble: Go For the Jugular, Not the Chip Shot!
Kafka's Ballsy Gamble: Go For the Jugular, Not the Chip Shot!  
Podcast: The Carton Show with Craig Carton & Chris McMonigle
Published On: Mon Nov 24 2025
Description: BT and Sal dive into the white-hot controversy surrounding Giants interim coach Mike Kafka's decision to go for a touchdown on 4th-and-goal late in the 4th quarter against the Lions, instead of kicking a field goal to go up by six. Sal emphatically defends the move, arguing that against a high-scoring team, a touchdown to go up by ten was the only way to "pierce the heart" and truly secure the victory, calling a six-point lead an "eternity" in the NFL. Tierney agrees with the aggressive mindset, stating that Kafka needs to be bold to distinguish himself and is "opening my eyes" with his disciplined, transparent, and creative approach—even if a total house-cleaning is still his leaning. The hosts use the explosive call to debate Kafka's future and whether his two weeks as interim coach have proven he has "star" potential coveted by the rest of the league.