The New York Giants conceded 34 straight points to the New Orleans Saints in their Week 6 clash to lose 34-27. The loss dropped New York to a 3-2-1 record and raised questions about the team’s defensive capabilities for a long season.

Before the Giants’ Week 7 clash against the Houston Texans, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson slammed the team’s players for their poor effort and pursuit on several plays against the Saints.

Dennard Wilson Slams Giants’ Defensive Players After Week 6 Capitulation

During his news conference on Thursday, Wilson castigated his players’ efforts against the Saints last week.

“A few plays got out, especially in the pass game, because of missed tackles. Then last week, we’re not happy, and I wasn’t happy with our effort running to the ball,” Wilson said. “We put some stuff on tape that was not characteristic of a New York Giants defense, and it’s unacceptable, and it will be changed.”

“I look at guys that don’t run [to] the ball, and I call them traitors because they’re traitors to the defense. At the end of the day, when you have a traitor to the defense, you either have to make adjustments to get them off the field, you have to get somebody else on the field, or they have to correct their behaviors. Last week was one of those things where we did not, on every play, run to the ball, and it was unacceptable.”

After addressing the issue with his players this week, Wilson further promised they would give better shifts against the Texans.

According to anSFdata9ers analysis of Pro Football Reference data, the Giants were one of the league’s worst tackling teams in Week 6, missing 13.3% of their tackles. The Giants’ run defense has allowed 813 rushing yards, fourth-most in the NFL, while surrendering 5.0 yards per carry, just behind the Carolina Panthers’ 5.1 yards.

Wilson also called the Saints game one of the team’s worst tackling performances of the season.

He has his work cut out for him to improve New York’s defense after coach John Harbaugh hired him to his staff in January. The outspoken defensive coordinator pulled no punches in his passionate brief about his players.

“We confront everything,” Wilson said. “If you’re not doing something to help the team and you’re hurting the team, if your effort is bad, if you have a lack of toughness, it gets pointed out, and it gets pointed out in front of everybody. Not only in a defensive meeting, it gets pointed out in the full team meeting.”

Wilson served as the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator for two seasons, with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons earning first-team AP All-Pro honors during a career-best 2025 season.

He departed Tennessee after not being retained in new Titans head coach Robert Saleh’s new staff. This season, Wilson’s unit in New York has earned a PFN’s NFL Defense Impact grade of 75.0 (No. 20 in the NFL)