THE STORYLINE:
Disclaimer: As previously mentioned, since the 2024 New York Giants season all but officially ended before Halloween (again), I have decided to use the last nine game previews as a running blog on the state of the team moving forward.
I hate being “that guy” who keeps telling everyone how bad things are, but it’s bad. Real bad. So bad that it’s hard to imagine how the New York Giants’ centennial could have gone worse. And unbelievably there are still five games left to play. That’s a lot of football. This season is like slow torture. Indeed, it doesn’t even seem like we really had a football season, just a weekly kick to the nuts.
How bad is it?
- At 2-10, the Giants are tied for the worst record in the NFL.
- They have lost seven games in a row.
- They are 0-6 in home games.
- They are 0-5 in the division.
- They have a -96 point differential.
- They have a -8 turnover differential.
- They have one interception on the season.
- They are dead last in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game.
- They are 27th in offense (yards per game).
- They are 29th in total run defense (yards per game) and dead last in yards per carry allowed (5.1).
This is the third season of the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll regime, having gone from 9-7-1 in 2022 to 6-11 in 2023. Things are clearly not getting better, but much worse. And this come after an offseason where:
- Daboll took over the play-calling duties from Mike Kafka, whose offense also struggled.
- Daboll hiring Shane Bowen as defensive coordinator and Michael Ghobrial as special teams coordinator after the failures of their predecessors.
- Shea Tierney becoming the passing game coordinator and Jerome Henderson defensive passing game coordinator.
- New positions coaches at RB, TE, OL, and OLB.
Making matters much worse is that coloring the entire picture are the strategic and tactical personnel decisions the regime has made since 2022:
- They decided to not exercise the 5th-year option on Daniel Jones in 2022.
- They did not field trade offers for Saquon Barkley in 2022 and 2023.
- They Franchised Barkley and re-signed Jones to a 4-year, $160 million contract in 2023.
- They allowed Barkley to walk in free agency as an unrestricted free agent in March 2024.
- They cut Jones in late November 2024.
There doesn’t seem to be any plan, any long-term vision. Once again, as has been the case since for more than a decade, the “rebuild” never really seemed to begin, and when those calling the shots finally realized their mistakes, it was too late. The fans see it. The players probably do so as well. Now the national media is mocking the Giants as Barkley runs wild in Philadelphia and Xavier McKinney has 7x the interceptions in Green Bay as the entire NYG defense.
John Mara does not want to keep firing general managers and head coaches. That upheaval isn’t good. However, one has to question what Schoen and Daboll are bringing to the table at this point? What is there to hang your hat on? Regardless of the reasons or excuses, this is a results-oriented business. The Giants have the worst record in the NFL. The offense and defense are terrible. Premium draft picks are not living up to expectations. Schoen and Daboll can’t evaluate quarterbacks or offensive linemen. There are no indications that the team is well coached. Of note, the head coach can’t seem to pick a quality defensive coordinator. Most importantly, the Giants once again have accepted their role as perennial loser. There is no fight, no confidence, no hope. Everyone seems to be going through the motions. Meanwhile, look at the rebuilds with the Commanders, Chargers, and Broncos. The comparison is not good.
Bottom line, this is clearly not working.
THE INJURY REPORT:
- QB Tommy DeVito (right forearm – probable)
- WR Malik Nabers (groin – questionable)
- WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles – probable)
- OT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad – doubtful)
- OT Chris Hubbard (knee – questionable)
- OT Evan Neal (hip – questionable)
- DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (neck/shoulder – out)
- DT D.J. Davidson (shoulder – doubtful)
- DL Jordon Riley (knee – questionable)
- ILB Bobby Okereke (back – out)
- ILB Dyontae Johnson (ankle – questionable)
- CB Deonte Banks (rib – out)
- CB Andru Phillips (shoulder – questionable)
- S Tyler Nubin (knee – probable)
- S Dane Belton (hip – probable)
THE FINAL WORD:
The injury situation is going to make things even worse, but don’t blame injuries on this season. The team was horrific before the injury bug hit again.
Two games that loom large on the horizon in terms of utter humiliation are Week 15 at home against the Ravens and Week 18 in Philadelphia.
