The New York Giants' defense surrendered 33 fourth-quarter points to the Denver Broncos in the team's 33-32 loss on Sunday, and while you can't pinpoint the collapse on any individual player in particular, we did see one Giants defensive back frequently being targeted: Dru Phillips.

Phillips committed a costly pass interference penalty on a key 4th-and-3 and was also burned several times late in New York's loss, and let's not forget the second-year nickelback simply not reacting on the Broncos' key 29-yard strike down the middle of the field to kickstart a drive that resulted in them kicking a game-winning field goal to end the contest.

Last year, Phillips was very impressive. The former third-round pick registered 71 tackles, a sack and an interception while managing a 77.0 coverage grade at Pro Football Focus, which ranked 18th among 222 qualifying quarterbacks. His 78.5 overall grade actually placed him 13th.

But this year? Phillips' production has plummeted. Yes, he is still racking up tackles, having logged 37 through seven games. He is just fine against the run. But being good against the run is a bonus for defensive backs; it's not their primary objective.

Phillips' coverage skills have completely eroded this season. He isn't getting his head turned around. His awareness is incredibly limited. He has been penalized seven times, tied for the most of any player — offense or defense — in the NFL.

Chalk it up to a sophomore slump? Perhaps, but defensive backs aren't quarterbacks. Sudden dropoffs are much more concerning for defensive players, and to be quite frank, Phillips' 57.5 coverage grade at Pro Football Focus this season actually feels generous.

Cor'Dale Flott has been really good. That much is true. But Deonte Banks has been a disaster, Tyler Nubin has declined and Phillips, who was dubbed the Giants' most underrated player by some heading into 2025, has absolutely fallen off a cliff.

To be fair, New York was without safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Paulson Adebo late in the affair, which placed some added pressure and responsibility upon Phillips. But it's not like he had been playing all that well in the six games prior to Denver, either.

Phillips is still just 23 years old, so perhaps he deserves some grace here. But it's hard to ignore just how much his effectiveness has dipped this season, and it seems to be affecting his confidence.

Look for teams to continue picking on Phillips going forward until he either gets it right or the Giants go in another direction.