Brian Burns’ Sack Drought Highlights Giants’ Defensive Disconnect
Through 11 weeks of the season, Brian Burns was right there in the thick of the NFL sack race. Only Myles Garrett had more. Burns was flying off the edge, living in backfields, and looking every bit the All-Pro force the Giants hoped he’d be when they brought him in to anchor their pass rush.
But fast forward a month, and the picture looks very different.
Burns is still sitting at 13 sacks - a number that hasn’t budged in three straight games. Meanwhile, Garrett has continued to surge, putting himself within reach of the single-season sack record.
For Burns, the momentum has stalled. And with the Giants now riding an eight-game losing streak after their latest loss to the Commanders, the frustration is starting to mount.
A Star Gone Quiet
There’s no denying what Burns is capable of. He’s one of the most explosive edge rushers in the league - the kind of player who can wreck a game plan with a single play.
But lately, that impact just hasn’t been there. No sacks in the last three games.
No consistent pressure. And outside of a late-game fumble recovery in the Week 15 loss at MetLife Stadium, very little to show for it on the stat sheet.
That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when Burns has been the one preaching unity and resilience in the locker room. He’s talked about staying together, about continuing to fight even with the playoffs out of reach. But when the production isn’t matching the message, it’s fair to ask where that fire has gone.
The Rise of Abdul Carter
While Burns has gone quiet, rookie Abdul Carter is starting to make some serious noise. Carter looked like a man possessed against Washington - flying around, making plays, and giving Giants fans a glimpse of what the future might look like. His breakout performance came at a time when the defense desperately needed a spark.
That contrast - the rookie ascending while the veteran star fades - says a lot about where this team is right now. The defensive line has all the pieces on paper.
Burns. Carter.
A front that should be among the league’s best. But it’s never quite clicked the way it should.
Injuries, inconsistency, and now a lack of late-season urgency have all played a role.
A Record Within Reach - But Slipping Away
Let’s be clear: Burns still has the talent to finish strong. He’s just three and a half sacks away from surpassing Jason Pierre-Paul’s 16.5-sack season in 2011 - the high-water mark for a Giants pass rusher in over a decade.
That kind of milestone is still on the table. But it won’t happen unless something changes down the stretch.
The Giants don’t have much left to play for in the standings, but individual pride and team culture still matter. Burns is supposed to be the tone-setter - the guy who leads by example. And when he’s locked in, few players in the league can match his ability to take over a game.
But right now, the effort and the output aren’t matching up. And in a locker room that’s clearly searching for answers, that disconnect is impossible to ignore.
Looking Ahead
The good news? Carter’s emergence gives the Giants something to build on.
If he continues to develop and Burns can rediscover his early-season form, this defensive front could still become the dominant force it was designed to be. But that’s a big “if,” especially with the current trajectory.
Burns has a chance to flip the narrative - to remind everyone why he was once seen as the future of this defense. But time is running out, and if the Giants are going to salvage anything from this season, it starts with their best players showing up when it matters most.