Giants on the Brink

"You're never as good as you think you are when you win; and you're never as bad as you feel when you lose."

- Joe Paterno

Well, one out of two ain't bad. 

After four games this season, the New York Giants record stands at 1-3. In another two weeks, it'll likely be 1-5. While not all stats are indicative of a team's play - like time of possession, for instance - some are undeniable. For instance,

The Giants have been outscored by their opponents 77-9 in the first half. They are dead last in the NFL in offense, averaging 11.5 points per game; dead last in point differential with a minus 76; second to last in sacks allowed with 23 - the eleven they surrendered against the Seattle Seahawks Monday night were the most given up by a Giants team in franchise history. They have held a lead in a game once - the final 19 seconds against the Cardinals in week two. In sixteen quarters of football, they have outscored their opponent in three of them. And, finally, they are the only team in the league not to have a takeaway.

This was not the way the 2023 season was supposed to go. After an impressive and surprising 2022 season in which they made the postseason and actually won a playoff game, the Giants were supposed to be a better team this year. They had what everyone agreed was a successful draft: picking a wide receiver, a center and two cornerbacks to add to their depth chart. They traded for a legit tight end in an attempt to improve their passing game. They signed their quarterback to a four-year extension. And despite a public and, at times, contentious negotiation, their star running back eventually signed his franchise tag. Everything was looking up. I had them winning 10 games and making the playoffs.

But then the season began. A blowout at home against the Cowboys was the first sign of trouble. A dramatic comeback win against the Cardinals in Arizona the following week temporarily allayed any concerns. But the last two games - particularly Monday night's debacle - have removed any doubt. This is a fundamentally flawed team that, barring a miraculous turnaround, will likely finish the season in the bottom third of the league standings.

Consider this: that was not the '85 Bears out there at MetLife Stadium. In their first three games, opposing quarterbacks averaged over 300 yards passing against the Seahawks defense; one of those quarterbacks was Andy Dalton. Daniel Jones managed just 203 yards with two interceptions; one of them a 97 yard pick six.

So what happened? How did this season turn into a train wreck? There's plenty of blame to go around here. Let's start with the obvious.

The Offensive line. Quite frankly this unit has been pathetic. Yes, there have been injuries, but the Seahawks had both starting tackles and a starting guard out Monday night and they were still able to protect Geno Smith. Either the Giants suck at drafting offensive linemen or they suck at coaching them or perhaps both. From Ereck Flowers to Evan Neal, something's not right here and it needs to be addressed.

The Quarterback. I've been a defender of Daniel Jones throughout most of his tenure in New York, but it's time to admit the obvious: he's regressed this season. Without Saquon Barkley, Jones simply isn't the same QB. His fumble at the Giant 7-yard line late in the first quarter and his pick six at the Seattle 3-yard line late in the third accounted for two of the three touchdowns the Seahawks scored. Last season, Jones had a total of five interceptions; this season he already has six. At the rate he's going he will wind up with more than 24. That is unacceptable for a quarterback making $160 million.

Coaching: As I alluded to in my critique of the OL, the coaching staff has to bear some of the brunt of the blame. Last season, the Giants had eight come-from-behind wins. Only the Minnesota Vikings had more. Coach Brian Daboll excelled at making half-time adjustments that were essential to the team making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

This season, the tables have turned. The league has adjusted to the Giants, and so far Daboll and his staff have not adjusted back. Daniel Jones has been unable to run to his left and right as much as he did last season. As a result, he's been reduced primarily to a pocket passer, which is not a strength of his. On the other side of the ball, offenses have figured out Wink Martindale's defensive schemes and are picking up his blitzes, thus exposing a vulnerable and inexperienced Giants secondary. The 49ers were particularly adept at this in week three.

The schedule. Let's face it: the Giants had a much easier schedule last season than they do this season. In their first seven games in 2022, they played against three playoff teams. This season, four of their first six opponents are playoff teams. To underscore just how critical a schedule can be, after jumping out to a 6-1 start last season, the Giants went 3-6-1 over their final ten games against much tougher opponents.

But bitching about the schedule isn't going to change anything. The truth is that if the Giants had put forth the kind of effort last season that they've put forth so far this season, they would've been lucky to win three of those first seven games. The lack of compete on both sides of the ball has been alarming. Daboll may not have any control over the schedule or who gets injured, but he does have control over how well his team executes the plays that are called in from the sidelines. And right now, both the execution and the effort just aren't there.

It's not too late to save the season. Even if the Giants lose their next two games, there are some winnable games still left on this schedule. But for that to happen, both the coaches and the players will have to step up their game considerably.