2024 Giants and NFL Preview

It was only a year ago that the New York Giants, fresh off an improbable 9-7-1 2022 season, were thought of as genuine playoff contenders. Like so many of the Big-Blue faithful, I not only drank the Kool-Aid, I was dispensing it to as many people as possible. A record of 10-7 was more than reasonable given their schedule, I wrote.

Boy, how wrong was I? A humiliating opening night loss to the Dallas Cowboys set the tone for what became a train wreck of a season. Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones both went down with injuries; the offensive line, which had shown much improvement the previous year, reverted to its Swiss cheese form; Brian Daboll quarreled with his coaching staff and at times looked more like John McVay than the offensive guru who turned Josh Allen into a star. There was some discussion that John Mara was so displeased by what he saw that he considered firing Daboll after the season. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed.

Who could've figured that a season in which every conceivable break went their way was not a very good barometer for predicting future success. Turns out, 2022 was just a mirage; nothing more, nothing less. The painful fact is that this team is far closer to the bottom of the standings than the top.

Ok, lesson learned. Now what?

Well, for starters, I don't expect Big Blue to be any worse this season than last. In fact, if Jones can stay healthy - a big if - they might surprise a few people, especially if first round pick Malik Nabers turns out to be the stud everyone thinks he is. But can Jones get him the ball? That's the question. The bigger question, however, is will this team struggle to score points without Barkley in the backfield?

The offseason addition of OLB Brian Burns should solidify a front seven that, on paper at least, is actually pretty good. The secondary, however, remains a huge question mark, as does the offensive line. With respect to the latter, it seems we've been saying that a lot since 2017.

Then there's the schedule. The Giants host the Minnesota Vikings week one, then travel to Washington to play the Commanders. Both games are winnable. After that, however, the schedule gets considerably tougher for the G-Men. The Browns in Cleveland, the Cowboys at home, the Seahawks in Seattle, then the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife, before going to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers. A record of 3-5 would be quite an accomplishment for this group. Thankfully, in the second half, they play the Carolina Panthers on the road, and the Commanders and Indianapolis Colts at home. They should go 3-0.

Last year, the incurable optimist in me got the better of my judgment. This time around, I'm going into the season with both eyes wide open and understandably skeptical. As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.

Prediction: 7-10 (Third in the NFC East). Not great, but hardly decrepit. In fact, all things considered, very realistic.

Below are my predictions for the 2024 NFL standings and postseason.

NFC East:

Eagles

Cowboys

Giants

Commanders

NFC North:

Packers *

Lions

Bears

Vikings

NFC South:

Falcons

Buccaneers

Saints

Panthers 

NFC West:

49ers

Rams

Seahawks

Cardinals

AFC East:

Bills

Dolphins

Jets

Patriots

AFC North:

Bengals

Ravens

Browns

Steelers

AFC South:

Texans

Jaguars

Titans

Colts

AFC West:

Chiefs *

Chargers

Broncos

Raiders

* Number one seed

NFC Wild Cards:

Cowboys

Rams

Lions

AFC Wild Cards:

Dolphins

Ravens

Chargers

Conference championships:

NFC: Packers over the 49ers

AFC: Chiefs over the Texans

Super Bowl:

Chiefs over the Packers

Joe Schoen Doesn't Pull a Gettleman

Going into the 2019 NFL Draft, New York Giants GM Dave Gettleman was looking for a successor to Eli Manning. The previous year, he used the number one overall pick to draft Saquon Barkley. Landing a franchise running back and a franchise quarterback in consecutive drafts would've been quite the feather in Gettleman's cap.

Unfortunately for Gettleman, the quarterback he wanted - Justin Herbert - decided to stay one more year at Oregon. So instead of waiting until 2020 to get his man, Gettleman took Daniel Jones with the 6th pick in the 2019 Draft. To say that pick was a reach would be putting it mildly. Every single draft board had Jones as a late first or early second-rounder at best. Compounding the issue was the fact that the Giants had two first round picks that year - 6 and 17 - meaning they could've taken linebacker Josh Allen with the 6th pick and still had Jones at 17.

While Jones has struggled to deliver on his promise, Allen has become one of the NFL's best edge rushers. Last season he recorded 17.5 sacks. And Herbert, who was drafted by the L.A. Chargers the following year - ironically at 6 - is one of the best signal callers in the league.

Credit Joe Schoen this much: the man takes good notes. Going into this year’s NFL Draft, the Giants once again had the 6th overall pick. J.J. McCarthy of Michigan was sitting there just waiting to be snatched up. His former coach, Jim Harbaugh, raved about him, calling him the best quarterback in the Draft.

But Schoen wasn't biting. In fact, he tried to move up to number 3 to get Drake Maye, whom he believed to be a much better QB, but the New England Patriots were not interested in trading down. So instead of reaching like his predecessor did five years ago, he took the best available player on the board.

Malik Nabers is unquestionably the most dynamic and explosive wide receiver in this year's draft class. The Giants haven’t had a player with this much talent at that position since Odell Beckham, Jr. With the departure of Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason, Nabers instantly becomes this team's number one offensive weapon. Whatever else you might say about how bad things went for the Giants last season, the front office had itself a pretty good night last night.

True, the Giants are still stuck with Jones for at least another season. With the contract he signed last year, there's no way in hell they can cut him; the dead cap hit alone would be $69.3 million. So, like it or not, Danny Dimes will get one more shot to prove he's a franchise quarterback. But this time he'll have an elite receiver to throw the ball to.

As for Schoen, his work is not done. He still needs to find a replacement for Xavier McKinney, who bolted for the Green Bay Packers over the winter. Then there's the offensive line, which continues to need help. In other words, there's plenty of holes still left to fill for Joe.

So far, I'd give him an A for the first day of the draft; overall, an A minus for his tenure as general manger. And that's more than I can say for the guy he replaced.

Final Thoughts on Saquon Barkley

Let's be honest: the moment the New York Giants decided they weren't going to franchise tag Saquon Barkley, you pretty much knew his days as a Giant were numbered. If Joe Schoen didn't think he was worth $11.95 million - the limit the NFL allows for a running back on a franchise tag in 2024 - that was his way of saying "we're done here."

I don't begrudge Barkley from signing elsewhere; the man has a right to get paid what he thinks he's worth. Though I have to wonder if choosing the Philadelphia Eagles was his way of saying to Schoen, "Fuck you, too."

And I also think it's rather juvenile of some - not all - Giants fans to say things like "You're dead to me." Knock it off. The guy left the team; he didn't burn the flag or something. This is a business. Players leave one team for another all the time. If teams can do it, why can't players?

What I am going to take issue with is this notion that Barkley never got the multi-year offer from the Giants he was looking for. The people who are spreading that bullshit, especially on ESPN, need to stop it immediately. The fact is, Barkley received a very fair and lucrative contract offer from the Giants in January of 2023. It was a three-year deal for $36 million, with $22 million guaranteed. Barkley, his agent, or both turned it down. Hence, the Giants slapped the franchise tag on him so they wouldn't lose him in free agency.

Given that the Eagles signed Barkley to a three-year $37.7 million contract with $26 million guaranteed, basically the all-pro running back travelled 95 miles down the Jersey Turnpike for a lousy $1.7 million over three years and an additional $4 million in guaranteed money. If you're going to skewer Schoen for how he handled this situation, it's more than fair to hold Barkley to the same standard. Why didn't he sign the contract offer in '23? Had he done so, he'd be entering year two of that contract.

Unless, of course, Barkley wasn't exactly sure he wanted to stay a Giant and was keeping his options open. Think about it. A very successful, and equally surprising, 2022 season, which resulted in a playoff berth and a playoff win; the first since 2011. Everything that could've gone their way, did. We often hear how front offices have a bead on whether their teams overachieved or not, and what that means for their long-term strategy. 

Why can't players do the same thing? It's unfathomable to me that a man as savvy as Barkley, who insisted he wanted to retire a Giant, would pass up an opportunity to sign a three-year extension, knowing full well it would force the Giants hand. Unless that was his plan all along. Reject the offer, sign the franchise tag, see what kind of season the Giants had in '23, and if things fell apart, which they did, jump ship.

Sound too conspiratorial for you? Yeah, me too. But it's better than the alternative, which is that a very talented running back got some very bad advice from an inept agent, and that eventually led to him leaving the team that drafted him.

Sometimes the simplest answers are the ones right under our noses.

Giants Have A lot of Holes To Fill

A year ago, the New York Giants were off to Minnesota to play the Vikings in the Wild Card round. They went on to win that game - their first postseason victory since 2011. And even though they were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round the following week, the feeling around 1 MetLife Stadium Drive was that the future was bright.

Well, we all know what happened. The 2023 season got off on the wrong foot and very quickly got away from the Giants. Injuries, poor execution on the field and questionable coaching decisions, all contributed to a 6-11 record that, once again, left Giants fans justifiably frustrated and wondering whether the current regime was up to the task of turning this thing around.

With this franchise now on its fourth head coach since Tom Coughlin was relieved of his duties following the 2015 season, it was highly unlikely that John Mara was going to fire Brian Daboll, especially given he won Coach of the Year in 2022. But, clearly, some changes had to be made. And made they were.

Gone are special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins. Based on the press conference Daboll and GM Joe Schoen held on Monday, the plan was to keep defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka on, but Martindale apparently didn't take too kindly to his assistants being fired, so he resigned in a huff.

My take on Martindale's departure is mixed. While he had his good points, it's worth noting that his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, haven't exactly suffered since he left. This year, the Ravens allowed the fewest points in the NFL; the year before they allowed the fourth fewest. Buddy Ryan, he wasn't. The Giants should have little problem replacing him.

It's on the other side of the ball where things become more dicey. Pick a position: quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver, tight end, running back, all have profound questions that will demand answers in order to avoid another calamitous performance in 2024.

Thanks to their season finale win over the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife, the Giants will pick sixth in next year's draft. Regardless of whether the Chicago Bears decide to trade or keep their number one pick, a top quarterback prospect will fall into Schoen's lap. Washington's Michael Penix, Jr distinguished himself in the national title game against Michigan. While no Caleb Williams, he'd be an interesting choice for a franchise that still hasn't fully lived down taking Daniel Jones with the sixth pick in 2019.

If Schoen believes that Jones has what it takes to lead this team, or, more to the point, if Mara "convinces" him he has what it takes, he may opt to go for a wide receiver or an offensive lineman.  God knows the Giants can use help at both. And if they decide not to franchise tag Saquon Barkley, they will need help at that position, as well.

Bottom line: Plenty of holes to fill, plenty of decisions to make. I don't relish the spot Schoen and Daboll find themselves in. But that's what you get when you underperform expectations the way the Giants did in 2023. Mara knows it takes time to rebuild; his father went through a similar rebuild in the 1980s. But he is also acutely aware that the fan base is restless and running out of patience.

Which makes this the most consequential offseason possibly in franchise history.

A Sub Above

So much for tanking. Whoever said the New York Giants season was over at 2-8 - that would be me, by the way - apparently never checked in with Tommy DeVito. Over the last three games, the one-time practice squad and backup quarterback has been anything but. Indeed, he's made one helluva case to be a starter in the NFL next season, if not with the Giants then somewhere.

Just look at these numbers:

Against the Washington Commanders, DeVito was 18/26 for 246 yards with 3 TDs, no INTs and had a quarterback rating of 137.7.

Against the New England Patriots, he was 17/25 for 191 yards, 1 TD, no INTs and a quarterback rating of 103.9.

And against the Green Bay Packers, he was 17/21 for 158 yards, 1 TD, no INTs and a quarterback rating of 113.9.

He has completed 52 out of 72 pass attempts over those three games for a completion percentage of 72.2. To put that in perspective, Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa have a completion percentage of 70.2 and 70 respectively. Whatever DeVito's mom is putting in those chicken cutlets she makes for her son, she should package it and sell it to the entire Giants organization.

Now before we get ahead of ourselves here, a couple of things need to be said. First, I'm not suggesting that DeVito is in the same class as Purdy or Tua. The only reason I mentioned him in the same sentence with those two was to point out just how well he's played these last three games and to give him full props; that's it. What DeVito reminds me of is Jeremy Lin: the basketball guard who burst onto the scene for the Knicks in 2011 and lit the Garden on fire for a season before being dealt to the Houston Rockets. Moments like this are special but fleeting, and Giants fans should enjoy this one while it lasts.

Second, let's knock it off with all the "in the playoff hunt" nonsense. This team is 5-8 and two of their remaining four games are against the Philadelphia Eagles who, as much as I hate to admit it, are in another league. If this season has taught us anything, it's that 2022 was an anomaly. The Giants clearly overachieved and, as a result, gave a lot of fans - myself included - a false sense of expectation going into 2023. Joe Schoen still has a lot more work to do before Big Blue becomes a legitimate contender. As I wrote prior to the start of last season, it took George Young seven years before he was able to field a team that eventually won the Super Bowl. This is only year two of the current regime. 

Bottom line: given where they were three weeks ago, if the Giants finish 7-10, they'll be very fortunate. Just as important, though, they will owe their strong finish - a finish that might well save Brian Daboll's job, by the way - to a man who lives at home with his parents and whose mom still makes his bed and cooks his meals for him.

Not a bad gig. Capiche?

What a Difference a Year Makes

The most abused word in the English language is the word if. This is especially true when it comes to sports teams. After watching the New York Giants lose to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium Sunday, the word if was thrown around so much, had it been a small animal, the ASPCA would've been called in.

If either Tyrod Taylor or Tommy Devito didn't have a collective minus 9 yards passing on the day; if Graham Gano had converted on just one of his two missed field goals; if Brian Daboll had gone for it on 4th and 1 from the Jets 17 with 28 seconds left in regulation up 10-7; if Kayvon Thibodeaux had not stopped the clock with 17 seconds left by jumping offsides; if Wink Martindale had elected to drop eight defenders into coverage instead of trying to rush Zach Wilson, then maybe, just maybe, the Giants might've snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, instead of the other way around. 

But, alas, they couldn't. Against a Jets team that went 2 for 15 on third down, the Jints found a way to one up them, going 2 for 19. And one of those first downs came courtesy of a roughing penalty. Indeed, it was only because of penalties like that, the running of Saquon Barkley and the defensive play of Thibodeaux, who had three sacks on the day - 8.5 on the season - that the Giants managed to get the ball across the 50 yard line at all. Barkley rushed for 128 yards, including a 34-yard run on the opening drive of the second half; and Thibodeaux stripped the ball from Wilson on the Jets opening drive of the game, giving the Giants the ball at the Jets 26 yard line.

And yet all they could muster was a lousy 10 points. That they were seconds away from pulling off an improbable win just goes to show you how snake bit this team truly is. They are nothing if consistent. 

For the third week in a row, Martindale's defense put the Giants in a position to win. They held the Buffalo Bills to 14 points; the Washington Commanders to 7; and the Jets to 13. Last season, they would've gone 3-0; this season, they went 1-2.

After the game, Daboll took responsibility for his decision to go for the field goal rather than the first down. Fans may question the call, but it was the correct one. Considering how bad the Giants were on 3rd down, converting a 4th and 1 would hardly have been a slam dunk. Besides, if your field goal kicker can't make a 35 yard field goal then what's he doing on the team? The fact is had Gano simply done his job, the Jets would've needed to go the length of the field to score the winning touchdown with less than 20 seconds left in regulation.

What a difference a year makes. The 2022 Giants were a resilient football team that found ways to win the close games. The 2023 Giants are the polar opposite; they invent new ways to lose the close games. It's hard to fathom just how fundamentally flawed they are, especially on offense. It doesn't matter who's quarterbacking them, with the exception of that second half against the Cardinals, they have been one of the worst red-zone teams in the NFL. Ironically, the only team worse than Big Blue in the red zone is the Jets, the team that beat them on Sunday.

Oh, death, where is thy sting?

So now that what little hope the Giants had of salvaging this train wreck of a season is gone, the only question that remains is how big of a selloff will they have? The first domino to fall is Leonard Williams. The underperforming defensive end was dealt to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2024 second rounder and a 2025 fifth rounder. Joe Schoen was able to get the return he got because the Giants picked up the bulk of Williams remaining contract. I would not be at all surprised if Adoree Jackson is the next one out the door. It was his pass interference penalty in OT that set up the Jets winning field goal. Both players are in the final year of their respective contracts and neither is expected to return next season. As for Barkley, I seriously doubt he gets traded. John Mara loves him, and let's be honest: without him, this team would probably be 0-8.

If there is a silver lining here, it's that the Giants, as of now, have the 4th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Not quite how the fanbase envisioned things going when the season started. But then I'm sure the passengers on the Titanic didn't envision a collision with an iceberg ruining their voyage across the Atlantic either.

Shit happens, you know.

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.

A Tale of Two Halves

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

- Charles Dickens
 

Wow, who knew Dickens was a Giants fan?

As they limped off the field at halftime in Glendale, Arizona, the Jints were trailing the Cardinals 20-0. The only reason it wasn't 27-0 was because Cardinals quarterback Joshua Hobbs missed a wide open Zach Ertz near the end zone.

Over their first six quarters, the Giants had been blanked. The last two teams to pull off that "feat" were the 1992 Patriots and the 1978 Colts. Big Blue had five possessions in the first half: three punts, an interception and a sack to end the half. There was little reason to believe things would be any different in the second half. 

And then, as if inspired by divine intervention, the Giants had a second half for the ages, outscoring the Cardinals 31-8. They converted on all five of their possessions, including the game-winning field goal with 19 seconds left. Daniel Jones completed 17 of 21 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 44 yards and the team's first touchdown of the year. And just like that, a season of light has pre-empted - for now - a season of darkness. Dickens couldn't have scripted it any better.

The Giants 20 point comeback was their largest in the Super Bowl era. The previous largest comeback in the Super Bowl era was 19 points in Week 9 of the 1970 season against the Washington Redskins. As any sports fan who was around at the time knows, the '70s were not particularly kind to both New York area football teams, especially the Giants.

Let's not mince words here. The Giants pulled a rabbit out of the hat - figuratively speaking - with that second half performance. They were being dominated on both sides of the ball by a Cardinals team that even with Kyler Murray at the helm in 2022 managed to win just four games. Going into this season, Arizona was the odds-on favorite to land the number one pick in the '24 draft. A Giants loss would've ostensibly ended their season. 

Even with the win, Big Blue is still not out of the woods. That's because their next four games will be against playoff teams, three of which are considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders. If the Giants have any hope of winning any of them, they must avoid the kind of putrid play they displayed over the first six quarters of their season.

Whatever pearls of wisdom head coach Brian Daboll bestowed on his troops at halftime Sunday - and I would loved to have been a fly on the wall in that locker room - he'd be well advised to repeat before they take the field at Levi's Stadium Thursday night. Because I can assure you if the Giants fall behind 20-0 against the 49ers in the first half, there will be no miraculous comeback in the second half. Pound for pound, San Francisco might be the most complete team in the NFL. If the Giants don't bring their "A" game, things will get ugly fast, and they will stay that way. You can bet the ranch on that, and your kids tuition, as well.

Unfortunately, that "A" game will be missing an important cog. Saquon Barkley injured his right ankle on the last Giants possession of the game and had to be helped off the field. An MRI revealed a normal ankle sprain, meaning the all-pro running back will likely miss the next two to three games. Without Barkley in the backfield, Jones will have to carry the offensive load. To some extent, this might be the best thing that could've happened to the Giants. Sooner or later, they are going to have to find out whether their $160 million quarterback is the next Eli Manning or the next Kenny Pickett. Now is as good a time as any.

Yes, Sunday's comeback win was indeed something to behold. Giants fans who were despondent after the first 30 minutes, were jubilant after the game. How long that jubilance lasts, however, remains to be seen.

2023 Giants and NFL Preview

Let's be honest for a moment. Going into last season, you didn't think the Giants would go 9-7-1, make the postseason and actually win a playoff game, did you?

Me neither. In fact, if memory serves, I cautioned Giants fans to manage their expectations, believing that Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll would need time to climb out of the hole the previous administration had dug.

So much for managing expectations. Daboll and his staff did an incredible job. They "fixed" what was wrong with Daniel Jones, and the fifth year quarterback out of Duke responded by having his best season as a pro, passing for 3205 yards, 15 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He also rushed for 708 yards, 7 touchdowns and only 2 fumbles. His passer rating of 92.5 was the highest of his career, and was better than Dak Prescott, Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson and a certain Jets quarterback named Aaron Rodgers.

Saquon Barkley not only stayed healthy - a major accomplishment given his past - he had the second best season of his career, rushing for 1312 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 57 passes for 338 yards. Overall, Barkley accounted for 29 percent of the Giants total yards on offense.

On the other side of the ball defensive coordinator Wink Martindale transformed the Giants defense into a force to be reckoned with. They were 10th in the league in red-zone efficiency, and with the additions that Schoen brought in, there's reason to believe they will improve on that number.

And that's where we begin our preview of this year's Giants team. 

On offense, Jones will have more weapons at his disposal than he had last season. Darren Waller, acquired from the Raiders, will team up with second year tight end Daniel Bellinger to give the Giants a genuine two tight end set for the first time since the Tom Coughlin era. At wide receiver, a full year of Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepard (ACL), rookie phenom Jalin Hyatt and Darius Slayton should stretch opposing defenses a bit more than last year; and Barkley will continue to be what he's always been: a dual threat out of the backfield. There are no Lamar Chases or Tyreek Hills on this roster, but neither are there scrubs. Bottom line, Jones should have more than 15 touchdown passes this season.

On defense, Isaiah Simmons and Bobby Okereke are significant upgrades at inside linebacker; Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari and Dexter Lawrence should continue to improve; and rookies Deonte Banks and Trey Hawkins are expected to fortify a secondary that already has Adoree Jackson, Xavier McKinney and Darnay Holmes in it.

If there is one legitimate concern, it is depth, especially on the offensive line and at linebacker. But anybody that looks objectively at this roster and doesn't see a vast improvement over last season's simply isn't paying attention; or perhaps doesn't want to see it. The fact is Schoen had himself a helluva offseason.

So where will the Giants finish this year? Regrettably, about where they finished last year. The reality is that while the Giants are an improved team, Philadelphia and Dallas are still better. Though I do think the Jints will give the Cowpokes a run for their money for second place. A record of 10-7 and a wildcard spot is possible given the schedule and the talent on this team.

Below are my predictions for the 2023 NFL standings and postseason.

NFC East:
Eagles
Cowboys
Giants
Commanders

NFC North:
Lions
Vikings
Packers
Bears

NFC South:
Saints
Falcons
Buccaneers
Panthers

NFC West:
49ers *
Seahawks
Rams
Cardinals

AFC East:
Bills
Dolphins
Jets
Patriots

AFC North:
Bengals
Ravens
Steelers
Browns

AFC South:
Jaguars
Titans
Colts
Texans

AFC West:
Chiefs *
Chargers
Raiders
Broncos

* Number one seed
Italics: wildcards

Conference championships:

NFC: 49ers over the Eagles

AFC: Chiefs over the Bengals

Super Bowl:

Chiefs over the 49ers

In Joe We Trust.

If you had any doubts about whether Joe Schoen was the right man to run the New York Giants, the last couple of days should've put them all to bed. In a span of 24 hours, Schoen not only got Saquon Barkley to sign his franchise tag but locked up his top offensive tackle Andrew Thomas for the next five years.

First Barkley: Schoen front loaded a $2 million signing bonus into the tag and included $909,000 in bonus incentives that 1. require the Giants to make the playoffs; and 2. require Barkley to rush for 1300 yards, catch 65 passes and score 11 touchdowns. It also doesn't preclude the Giants from slapping a franchise tag on Barkley next year.

It's a win / win for Schoen. Think about it. If the Giants make the playoffs and Barkley manages to hit all his benchmarks, it'll be the easiest $900k Schoen ever spent. However, should the Giants fail to make the postseason, or if Barkley fails to hit any or all of his benchmarks, Schoen at the very least avoided what could've been a protracted holdout and got arguably the third best running back in the NFL to play for a million dollars less than the last offer he had on the table before the deadline.

Shrewd doesn't begin to describe what happened here. For all the sympathy Barkley was engendering within the sports community over how "unfairly" he was being treated, the simple truth is that all the leverage was on the Giants side. Once Barkley rejected what would've been a three-year deal that included $22 to $23 million in guaranteed money, his only option was to sign the franchise tag. A holdout would've cost him even more money and quite possibly ended his career with Big Blue. In the end, he did the right thing and swallowed his pride. 

But Schoen wasn't remotely done. He signed Thomas to a five-year, $117.5 million deal that ensures one of the best left tackles in football remains a Giant for the foreseeable future. It's a huge contract to be sure - the second highest for that position in the league - but the way it's written, it only increases Thomas's cap hit by $1.47 million over last season.

Indeed, between locking up Daniel Jones, Dexter Lawrence, Barkley and Thomas and the additions of Darren Waller, Cole Beasley and James Robinson, Schoen is assembling a roster that will be deeper than the one that went 9-7-1 last year and made the playoffs for first time since 2016.

In only his second full season as Giants' GM, Schoen is establishing himself as one helluva negotiator. At the bye last season he offered CB Julian Love a two-year, $14 million contract extension. Like Barkley, Love rejected it and instead shopped around. In response, Schoen pulled the offer and Love eventually wound up signing with the Seattle Seahawks - for $12 million; $2 million less than what he could've gotten from the Giants.

The moral of the story is simple. When Joe Schoen puts a contract in front of you, sign it. Because that's the best offer you're going to get. The man means business.

Just ask Saquon Barkley.

"It Is What It Is."

"There ain't no good guy; there ain't no bad guy. There's only you and me and we just disagree." 

- Dave Mason

No doubt there will be a good deal of analysis and even some finger pointing over the next few weeks regarding what happened between the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley. What we know for certain is that GM Joe Schoen made the last of what was believed to be three contract offers to the all-pro running back, all of which were rejected. As a result, Big Blue will go into the 2023 season not knowing whether Barkley will sign his $10.1 million franchise tag or hold out. As of now, it's anybody's guess.

Already the Monday-morning quarterbacks - pardon the pun - are chirping away. How could the Giants allow this to happen? Why couldn't Schoen just give Barkley what he was asking for? After all, he gave $160 million to Daniel Jones. Certainly Barkley deserved no less consideration given what he has done for this organization.

Let's be clear: the Jones contract was entirely different. The Giants never had any intention of letting their quarterback walk. It was simply a matter of whether they were going to franchise tag him or sign him to a long-term extension. The former meant a $32.4 million cap hit on the books, while the latter, due to the way the contract was written, worked out to a $21.7 million cap hit. For a team still reeling from Dave Gettleman's gross incompetence, Schoen would've been a fool to tag Jones. 

This was a business decision, pure and simple. Schoen knew what he wanted to spend and, more importantly, what he could afford to give up. It's worth noting that even with Barkley on a franchise tag, the Giants only have $4.1 million in available cap space left. As valuable as Barkley is to this offense, Schoen had a fiduciary responsibility to an organization that, cap wise, has been a train wreck for years. How bad a train wreck? This season, they will be carrying $14.7 million in dead cap space, courtesy of Kenny Golladay's contract buyout.

If you're looking for someone to blame here, try Barkley's agent, Kim Miale. She badly overplayed her hand. Either she didn't know what the market for running backs was or she doubted Schoen's resolve. In either event, she cost her client a good deal of money. 

Agents have two basic responsibilities: One should be fairly obvious: get their clients as much money as possible; two, level with their clients in the event they are unsuccessful. Miale clearly failed on number two. Once it was obvious that Schoen wasn't going to blink, she should've told Barkley to sign the contract. She didn't. Or if she did, Barkley didn't listen to her. So instead of a three-year deal with $22 million in guaranteed money, he will now have to settle for $10.1 million on a one-year franchise tag and then hope for a better offer from the Giants next season. 

Fat chance that happening. If anything, it's entirely possible the Giants won't even tender him a franchise tag next summer. The fact that no other team approached Barkley with an offer better than what the Giants had on the table is a pretty good indication that, despite his bonafides, the demand for his services just wasn't there. Josh Jacobs, who had a much better season for the Raiders, also didn't get the deal he was looking for and, like Barkley, has so far refused to sign his franchise tag.

Like it or not, the NFL is a passing league. Running backs are not very high on the pecking order. With the franchise tag expected to go up to $12 million in '24, the Giants might very well elect to low ball Barkley, or perhaps walk away entirely. If that happens, it's on Miale. 

Look, is it fair that one of the most dynamic players in the league is getting treated this way? Of course not. As a fan, I feel bad for the guy. He deserved better than what he got. And I have no doubt that this will reverberate throughout the locker room. It could even cost the Giants a playoff appearance, especially if Barkley decides to sit out the season. 

But the bottom line is this: the NFL, like the NBA and the NHL, has a salary cap. And, yes, I know the league gives their GMs all kinds of room to get creative with respect to player contracts. But come the start of the season, teams still have to be cap compliant. Gettleman was one of the most creative GMs the Giants ever had and look where it got them. At some point you have to be willing to say "enough is enough."

I actually respect the decision Schoen made. It couldn't have been easy for him. But in the end, it was the only decision he could've make.

Giants Lock Up Their Franchise Quarterback

In the end, Joe Schoen didn't have much choice. Either he was going to bite the bullet and give in to Daniel Jones' demands, or he was going to slap the franchise tag on him. The latter meant two things: 1. Saquon Barkley would likely be signed by another team with no compensation coming back to the Giants; and 2. The entire $32.4* million owed Jones under the franchise tag would be guaranteed and would be applied in full to the 2023 salary cap. Neither was acceptable to Schoen.

So he did the only thing he could: he waited until the 11th hour - 3:59 PM Tuesday, to be exact - to agree to a four year, $160 million contract - $82 million guaranteed. Doing that allowed him to franchise tag Barkley for $10.1 million. But more importantly, it meant that the first year of Jones' contract - thanks to the way it was written - would only count $19 million against the cap. And if Schoen can somehow get Barkley to accept a two-year, $25 million deal, that 10.1 million cap hit would be lowered by $1 or $2 million. Only in the NFL can $40 million equal $19 million. If Jones played hockey instead of football, he and his agent would be up a creek.

Now before you skewer Schoen for overpaying for Jones, it's important to understand just how hamstrung he was regarding the salary cap. While not quite as hard up as some of his fellow GMs, Schoen was nonetheless facing a daunting task: how to field a team next season and still be cap compliant. Nobody, with the exception of Jones, his family, a handful of friends and his agent, seriously believed that coming off a year in which he had only 15 touchdowns and threw for 3205 yards, he was worth $40 million per year. And keep in mind, Jones' agents were reportedly asking for $46 million. If Daniel Jones is worth $46 million, Patrick Mahomes is worth $75 million. Even $38 million was pushing the envelope. $35 million seemed a more reasonable figure.

But reason and reality rarely intersect in professional sports. If they did, the Mets payroll would be $200 million instead of $370 million. Schoen knew with the clock ticking, he didn't have the leverage to play hardball. Give him credit at least for turning a shit sandwich into a Big Mac. Once the Giants buy out Kenny Golladay next week, they will have about $25 million in available cap space. And if they can somehow get Leonard Williams to renegotiate his contract, they could pick up another $5 million. Now you know why John Mara hired an assistant GM instead of a Director of Player Personnel to run his franchise. The latter may be a good talent evaluator, but the former knows how to crunch numbers. Schoen is still digging out from the debris left by his predecessor.

But there was another reason for keeping Jones. His ceiling is still unknown. I have long felt that Jones' biggest problem is between his ears. He obviously has the arm strength and the wheels to play in the NFL; it's his pocket presence and decision making that has so often tripped him up. If Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka can continue to mold him, there's a very real possibility that this contract could pay for itself in two years. If not, if Jones never develops into the quarterback the Giants envisioned him being when they drafted him, Schoen can simply cut him after the '24 season with only an $18 million dead cap hit on the books.

Feel better? You should. Joe Schoen knows what he's doing. Just take a look at the Buffalo Bills. In two years, the Giants could be where they are.

Who wouldn't want that?

* An earlier version of this piece incorrectly stated that Jones's franchise tag would've been $36.2 million had the Giants not signed him to his four year contract. The actual amount was $32.4 million. I have made the correction. Sorry for the confusion.

The Giants Glass is Half Full

It sucks losing, I know; it particularly sucks when the opponent you lose to resides 90 miles down the Jersey Turnpike. And, trust me, Eagles fans will be insufferable if their team goes on to win the Super Bowl next month. When they won their first title in 2017, you'd have thought Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr had been resurrected from the dead. Philadelphia may be the city of brotherly love, but its sports fans can be pompous assholes.

But while the final score on Saturday may have been lopsided, in no way, shape or form did it detract from what the Giants accomplished this season. Despite what Mike Francesa said, this team exceeded all expectations. Coming off a 4-13 record - their fifth losing campaign in a row - the so-called football "experts" scoffed at the notion that Brian Daboll and Co. could turn this ship around. Indeed, yours truly had them going 6-11. That they finished 9-7-1, and made it all the way to the Divisional round of the playoffs, should qualify as the "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" story of the decade.

So now what? With the season over, what comes next? Yes, the glass is half full instead of half empty, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter. You still have half a glass of water. They may have been the most resilient team in the NFL but spit and polish doesn't get you a Super Bowl ring. As painful as it was to watch the Eagles humiliate the Giants on national TV, they were the better team in every measurable way.

Joe Schoen has his work cut out for him. Thanks to his predecessor's incompetence, he was saddled with roughly $53 million in dead cap this past season. He also had another $21.1 million of useless salary on the books in the person of Kenny Golladay, whose lone touchdown came in week 18 at Philly. Next season, Golladay's cap hit will be $21.4 million. If the Giants buy him out after June 1, the dead cap hit would be $7.9 million in 2023 and $6.8 million in 2024. When you factor in the $3.6 million in dead cap from Kadarius Toney, the Giants will have about $58 million in available cap space to go shipping with during the off season. 

That may seem like a lot of money, but it really isn't. That's because the lion's share of it will go to Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, assuming Schoen elects to re-sign them. And based on what they did in 2022, it's hard to imagine them not coming back. 

Jones threw for 3205 yards with 15 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He also rushed for a club record 708 yards. His quarterback rating of 60.8 was 7th best in the NFL. To say he had a career year would be an understatement. Barkley had his best season as a Giant since his rookie year with 1312 rushing yards, good for 4th best in the league. More than that, he proved he could stay healthy, which was a major concern going into the season. Both players have expressed a desire to return in 2023.

But at what cost? Jones and Barkley made $8.3 and $7.2 million respectively this season. A three-year deal for Jones would likely come in around $35 million per season. Barkley supposedly turned down a three-year, $36 million offer and is reportedly looking for a contract similar to the $16 million Christian McCaffrey is making. Let's say both sides meet in the middle. $14 million plus $35 million comes out to $49 million. For those with an adding machine, that comes to $49 million, which leaves Schoen with just $9 million to plug the many holes on this team. If you were paying close attention throughout the season, you know that isn't nearly enough.

For the Giants to become genuine contenders, two areas in particular must be beefed up: wide receiver and linebacker. Regarding the former, the Giants were the only playoff team not to have a 1,000 yard receiver. Darius Slayton led them with 724 yards; Richie James, who dropped a sure touchdown on Saturday, was next with 569; and Jones's favorite target, Isaiah Hodgins - a pick up from Buffalo after being waived - had 392. It's obvious that Schoen will have to go through the draft to land an elite receiver.

Regarding the latter, the way the Eagles ran roughshod all over the Giants both on Saturday and at MetLife in December should tell you everything you need to know about their lack of depth at this position. Clearly, Jihad Ward and Jaylon Smith weren't the answers here. Again, with limited cap space, Schoen may have to address this need through the draft as well. 

One tool available to him that could help is the franchise tag. Each team is permitted to franchise tag one player per season. Considering how expensive both Jones and Barkley might be to retain, Schoen could go that route with one of them to save some cap space. And if he can get a couple of players to renegotiate their contracts, that will help as well. One thing is certain: the talent gap that exists between the Giants and the top teams in the league isn't going to be bridged anytime soon.

Bottom line: this is still a rebuild. A rebuild that may be ahead of schedule, but a rebuild nonetheless. As Schoen emphasized in his press conference yesterday, patience is important. "Teams are never one player away," he said.

It's reassuring having adults run the show, isn't it?

Giants Near Perfect Win in Minnesota

This time, there was no last second 61 yard field goal to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. This time, the better team won the game.

The New York Giants flew into Minnesota and played a near perfect playoff game against the Vikings Sunday. And for their efforts, they move on to the Divisional round. The final score was 31-24, Big Blue.

Let's be honest. This was the best playoff matchup the Giants could've hoped for. The Vikings, despite an impressive 13-4 regular-season record, were quite possibly the weakest division winner in the NFL, and that includes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their defense was tied for third worst in the league along with the Colts and Lions, surrendering 427 points. A look under hood revealed a team that had been playing with fire all season long, and this time they got burned. The fact is had the Giants not committed two turnovers and had a punt blocked in week 16, they would've won that game, too. For the Jints, it came down to not shooting themselves in the foot.

But just because the Vikes were a paper tiger, that shouldn't diminish what the Giants accomplished here. Put succinctly, this was the best postseason game this franchise has played in since the 2011 season: the last time they won the Super Bowl. Just look at these stats: The Giants led in first downs: 28-21; rushing yards: 142-61; total yards: 431-332; and time of possession: 33:36-26:24. They literally made two mistakes the entire game: a procedural penalty in the red zone that wiped out a touchdown and a dropped pass by Darius Slayton late in the 4th quarter that would've allowed them to run out the clock. In the end, neither proved costly.

It goes without saying that the job Brain Daboll and his staff have done with this team is nothing short of miraculous. They literally took a 4-13 team and in less than a year transformed it into a 9-7-1 playoff team. But more than that, they have changed the culture in a locker room that for the better part of a decade had gotten used to losing. These players now believe in themselves and it shows on the field. As I wrote last October, we haven't seen such discipline from a Giants team since "the glory days of Bill Parcels."

Mike Kafka called a perfect game, dialing up just the right plays to exploit a porous Vikings defense. Daniel Jones had his best game as a Giant, completing 24 of 35 passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 78 yards. Saquon Barkly had over 100 all-purpose yards; 53 on the ground and 56 through the air.

And on the other side of the ball, Wink Martindale's defense held the league's number one receiver, Justin Jefferson, to a paltry 47 yards. In the week 16 game, Jefferson lit up the Giants secondary for 133 yards. And while the Giants didn't record a single sack against Kirk Cousins, they pressured him on virtually every passing down. It will be very difficult for Joe Schoen to keep both coordinators from jumping ship next season.

But while the Giants deserve to bask in the glory of their well-deserved win, their next opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, will be far more formidable. The only game this season in which the Giants were thoroughly dominated from start to finish was against the Eagles at Met Life in week 14. Philly cruised to a 48-22 rout. Believe me when I say the score didn't remotely reflect just how bad a whooping the Eagles put on the G-Men. If the Giants have any chance at pulling off the upset Saturday, they will have to be more than just perfect; they are going to have to hope that Jalen Hurts's injured right shoulder is still bothering him. Because the Eagles, unlike the Vikings, can play defense and they know how to rush the quarterback. They led the NFL with 70 sacks this season.

No doubt about it, this will be Daboll's toughest challenge since becoming Giants' head coach. 

Giants in Control of Their Own Destiny

To be clear, the Giants deserved a better fate than the one they got in Minnesota on Saturday. For most of the game, they were the better team. They out-gained the Vikings, both on the ground and in the air. Despite throwing only his first interception in the last five games, Daniel Jones was the better quarterback. Indeed, with a receiving corps that consisted of Richie James, Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Clayton and Daniel Bellinger, Jones still managed to complete 30 of 42 pass attempts for 334 yards. Imagine the stats he could've put up if he had Justin Jefferson to throw to.

But, alas, Jones did throw that pick, early in the 4th quarter with his team trailing 17-13. And while it didn't lead to any points by the Vikes, it nonetheless deprived the Jints of what surely would've been at the very least a field goal and quite possibly the go-ahead touchdown. Though it wasn't the only turnover of the game - Bellinger coughed up the ball at the Minnesota 39 early in the 2nd quarter, which led to a Vikings field goal - it proved to be the most costly.

Still, if you are a fan of this team, you had to be impressed with the resiliency you saw on that field. After a blocked punt led to a Vikings touchdown that ninety-nine times out of a hundred would've iced the game, the Giants drove 75 yards in 59 seconds to score a touchdown and two-point conversion that tied the score with just over two minutes remaining. Saquon Barkley capped off the possession with a 27 yard run on 4th and 2. In the end, a 61-yard field goal as time expired was the backbreaker. 27-24, Vikings. Like I said, they deserved a better fate.

But as cruel as the football gods were to the Giants in Minnesota, they are still in control of their own destiny. That's because the Lions (7-8), Seahawks (7-8) and Commanders (7-7-1) each lost as well. All the Giants have to do this Sunday is beat the Colts and they will make the postseason for the first time since 2016. It doesn't get any simpler than that. Win and in. If that slogan isn't plastered all over walls of the Giants locker room before the game, someone needs to be fired.

There will be no excuses for not winning. None! The Colts are a hapless team in the midst of a terrible season in which their head coach, Frank Reich, was fired and replaced by ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday, who clearly should've kept his day job. Their 4-9-1 record speaks for itself. 

The Giants, on the other hand, at 8-6-1, have been one of the most overachieving and hardest working teams in the NFL this season. Only once have they lost a game in which they were favored going in: the Lions in week eleven, 31-18. And it's worth noting that Lions team is considerably better than the Colts team that will be limping into MetLife Stadium this Sunday. 

Head coach Brian Daboll - who should be on the short list for coach of the year - will have his troops ready when they take the field in front of 82,000 screaming fans. Let's put it this way: If they bring the same level of intensity to this game that they showed in Minnesota on Saturday, Big Blue will punch its ticket to the playoffs.

Look, I know nothing is ever etched in stone. Let's not forget this is the same franchise that gave us "The Fumble" back in 1978. Anything is possible. But given what we've seen so far from this Giants team, they should be able to take care of business against the Colts. If they don't; if they squander this opportunity, it will be a very, very long off season - even for an organization that is in year one of yet another rebuild.

Coaching Matters

Let's be honest. If somebody had told you before the start of the season that the New York Giants would be in second place in the NFL East with a 6-1 record - the best start since '08 when they went 11-1 in their first twelve games - you'd have thought they were either drunk or nuts. Shit, I had 'em going 6-11 and I thought that was being overly optimistic. That's what being a fan of this franchise can do to people. And with only one winning season - 2016 - in the last ten can you really blame them?

Since Tom Coughlin was shown the door in 2015, three head coaches have come and gone: Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge. Apart from McAdoo's inaugural season, when then GM Jerry Reese spent heavily on a revamped defense, they've all been brutal disasters. Judge was so bad, he was fired a week after the end of his second season.

So when John Mara and Steve Tisch decided to clean house - again - and brought in Joe Schoen as the new GM, the faithful weren't exactly beaming with confidence. But so far this season, Schoen's hires have turned the most ardent skeptics into believers. Head coach Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale have transformed this moribund team. No longer are the Giants the laughingstock of the league. As of this writing, they are a legitimate threat to make the playoffs.

Of all the organized team sports, none is more dependent on coaching than football. You can have all the talent in the world, but if your coaches aren't competent, you're not going anywhere. To be clear, the Giants do NOT have the most talent in the NFL, not even close. But Daboll and company have gotten the most of what talent they have. With a healthy Saquon Barkley, a patchwork defense, a young and inexperienced offensive line, a quarterback with virtually zero pocket presence and a bunch of receivers who are throwaways at best, they have become the unsung story of the 2022 season.

The reclamation job Daboll and Kafka have done with Daniel Jones is nothing short of miraculous. Since Dave Gettleman selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft, he has struggled to establish himself in the league. By giving him just enough rope, Daboll has allowed Jones to play to his strengths. The long bombs have been replaced with short, strategic passes; he runs for the first down instead of staying in the pocket; and when his receivers aren't open, he throws the ball away. In short, Jones has become an effective clock manager. He's no Patrick Mahomes, but with the system the Giants have designed around him, he doesn't have to be. Through the first seven games, Jones has had five game-winning drives - the most by a QB since 1950 - while throwing only two picks and fumbling the ball twice.

The offensive line has been a blemish on this team for years. Daboll's staff has turned that around too. Since the Cowboys game at MetLife in game three, in which Jones was sacked five times, the line has allowed only seven sacks in the last four games. Pass protection isn't the only thing that's improved. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team with the third best-best run defense in the league, the Giants rushed for 236 yards on 39 attempts, for a 6.1 average; 61 of those yards came on their final possession.

They've beaten Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson on consecutive weeks; their defense has made last-second stops to preserve wins; and their offense has run out the clock on opponents. Unlike past years, when they invented ways to lose, they have not beaten themselves once this season. This might be the most disciplined Giants team we've seen since the glory days of Bill Parcells. In fact, the more I think about Daboll, the more he reminds me of Parcells: a no-nonsense coach who demanded and got the most out of his players. If he isn't coach of the year, there should be an investigation. 

Look, it's still early in the season; we're not even at the halfway point yet. But this team is for real. Their resiliency is matched only by their belief in each other. If Barkley stays healthy, there's no telling where they might finish. 11-6? 12-5? Who knows?

It's been a very long time since Giants' fans have had something to cheer about. Thanks to Brian Daboll, there's finally hope in Big Blue land.

Brian Daboll's Balls of Steel

File this under "Pinch me, I must be dreaming." The New York Giants went into Nashville yesterday to play the Tennessee Titans as five and a half point underdogs, and not only covered, but won.

In what had to be the most improbable ending to a Giants' game in years, Daniel Jones, with his team trailing 20-13 late in the fourth quarter, not only led his offense downfield, but when he connected with Chris Myarick for a touchdown with 1:06 left in regulation, his coach Brian Daboll, rather than kick the extra point for the tie, elected to go for two for the lead. And when Jones shoveled a pass to Saquon Barkley, who sidestepped a tackle to take it into the end zone, the Jints went ahead 21-20, and yours truly damn near pissed his pants, along with, dare I say, several million other stunned fans.

I'll be honest with you, I did not have this game as a win on the schedule. In fact, truth be told, I didn't have the Giants winning a single game this season against an opponent with a winning record. So much for my future as a prognosticator. I keep telling people to take what I say with a grain of salt. Who knew there'd be this much salt?

After a brutal first half in which Jones got sacked four times and, in customary fashion, fumbled the ball, the Titans led 13-0 going into the third quarter. That was when Barkley provided a blast from the past. He took a handoff from Jones at the Giants 10 yard line and after one deke, scampered down the sidelines to the Titan 22. Three plays later, Barkley ran it into the end zone from the four yard line. The extra point failed. 13-6 Tennessee.

After the Titans were forced to punt on their next possession, Jones, on second and 11 from his own 35, found Sterling Shepard all alone down field and threw a strike. The extra point was good and the score was tied at 13.

Even when Tennessee went ahead 20-13, the Giants would not give up. They recovered a muffed punt and had the ball deep in Titans territory. This was when history began to rear its ugly head. Jones badly misread the coverage on Barkley and his pass was picked off in the end zone.

End of story, end of game. Same old Giants; another valiant effort down the drain. Oh, well, maybe they'll regroup and beat the Panthers at MetLife next week. What ya gonna do, right?

Except Daboll wasn't having any of it. Visibly upset, he went over to his quarterback on the bench and gave him a piece of his mind. From what viewers could make out it was pretty much a one-way conversation. Daboll did the talking, Jones did the listening.

And it seemed to work. On the Titans next possession they were forced to punt when, for some strange reason on third and one from their 41, head coach Mike Vrabel elected not to go with Derrick Henry for what certainly would've been a first down, but instead went with tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo on a sweep around left tackle that resulted in a four-yard loss.

This time Jones did not look the gift horse in the mouth. This time he came through. With Barkley doing most of the heavy lifting, the Giants snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Daboll, when given a choice between settling for a potential tie or a potential win, chose the latter. 

It was the ballsiest move I've seen from a Giants head coach since the heyday of the Tom Coughlin era. But even with all that, it still came down to a missed 47 yard field goal attempt by Randy Bullock with four seconds left to preserve the win.

I'm not being pollyanna here when I say this might be the most important win this franchise has had in a very long time. In fact, this is the first time since 2016 - six years! - they've opened the season with a win. That year, the Giants started 2-0 on their way to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth.

We shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves here. That team had the number two rated defense in the NFL and two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning; this team was forced to make cuts to the defense just to get under the salary cap and, let's face it, the jury's still out on Danny Dimes. Based on how efficient Ryan Tannehill was throwing against this secondary (20-33, 266 yards and 2 TD), and how mistake prone Jones still is, I wouldn't go pre-ordering those postseason tickets just yet.

But the lift these players got from their head coach will do wonders for their confidence. After four years of Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge collectively shitting the bed, Daboll's gutsy move was the perfect tonic for what ailed this team.

And for a fanbase that's been desperately searching for something, anything it can hang its cap on, it was a signal that perhaps those dark days of the past might soon be over.

Managing Expectations for Giants Fans

Well, it's that time of year again when the hopes of Giants fans everywhere spring eternal, where visions of playoff appearances dance like sugar plums in their heads. 

Of course, deep down, we all know how this ends. A cruel and unforgiving schedule exposes the flaws, and hope quickly turns to despair. Another year lost, another postseason deferred. Reality sucks in Big Blue land.

So why should this season be any different? In one sense, it won't be. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are considerable upgrades over Dave Gentleman and Joe Judge. But when you dig a hole halfway to China, as the prior regime did, it's gonna take a while to climb out.

Let's not forget how long it took George Young to turn around this franchise. It would behoove Giants fans to manage their expectations over the next couple of seasons. Success will be measured incrementally. There are no "win and rebuild" short cuts when it comes to football. Gettleman couldn't accept that fact and wasted two whole years trying to prove everyone wrong. Schoen won't make that mistake. He spent the last five seasons helping turn the Buffalo Bills into a bonafide Super Bowl contender. He and Daboll will eventually do the same here in New York. Be patient and trust the process.

But in the meantime, though, the 2022 season beckons. As strange as it might seem, the schedule isn't as bad as past seasons. That doesn't mean the Jints are going to the playoffs, but it could mean that a repeat of last year's 4-13 travesty isn't necessarily a given.

A lot depends on two things: 1. Can Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka fix what's wrong with Daniel Jones? The 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft showed some promise in his rookie year but has struggled mightily since. If they can improve his pocket presence and decision making, maybe - just maybe - the Giants might not have to look for a new quarterback in next year's draft. It's a tall order, given Jones proclivities, but my gut tells me both men are up to the task. Don't expect miracles; the goal should be steady improvement.

2. Can Saquon Barkley stay healthy and productive? The overall number one pick in the 2018 NFL draft rushed for 1307 yards and was rookie of the year, but has been beset by injuries the last three seasons. In 2021, he rushed for only 593 yards. For this team to have any chance of being competitive, both players have to have impactful seasons.

So let's be optimistic and assume Daboll and Kafka can resuscitate Jones's career and Barkley stays healthy. What can we expect? Given that there's still plenty that's wrong with this team - the OL, the secondary - not much. But like I mentioned above, improving on last season's 4-13 record isn't out of the question.

Looking at the schedule, I see a number of winnable games. The Carolina Panthers (week two), the Chicago Bears (week four), the Jacksonville Jaguars (week seven), the Houston Texans (week nine), and the Detroit Lions (week ten). That's five wins right there. Let's assume the Giants split their two games with the Washington Commanders; that's six wins.

6-11 might not seem like much, but for an organization that's been moribund most of the last decade, it's something to build on; and for a football operation charged with the reclamation project of a lifetime, it's a good beginning.

Same Shit, Different Year!

First, the good news. Daniel Jones had his best start as a Giant. The beleaguered quarterback threw for 249 yards and a touchdown; he also ran for 95 yards and a touchdown. And he would've had another running TD had C.J. Board not been called for holding. 

More good news: the offensive line also had its best day in years. Going up against arguably the best defensive front seven in the NFL, Jones had plenty of time in the pocket to hit his receivers. Frankly, I was stunned at how little pressure Jones got during most of the game. I haven't seen a Giants offensive line protect this well in a decade.

Unfortunately, that was the end of the good news.

The defense, which was supposed to be the strength of this team, was about as tough as a Mister Softie ice cream cone. Between the lack of a genuine pass rush and a porous secondary that played way too far back, Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who a year ago was in the XFL, looked more like Tom Brady than a backup. Receiver Terry McLaurin ate cornerback James Bradberry alive for 11 catches and 107 yards. The lone exception was when Bradberry jumped a poorly run route by McLaurin and intercepted a pass deep in Washington territory to set up what should've been the winning field goal. 

But that was not where this game was lost. As is typical in most Giants games, mistakes proved to be the difference. I'll do my best to catalogue them.

There was the above-mentioned holding penalty against Board that nullified a 58-yard touchdown run by Jones. Instead of being up 14-7, the Giants had to settle for a field goal that put them ahead 10-7.

But before that, there was the costly false start and the sack on the second possession that took the Giants out of field goal range. If your counting, that's seven points so far.

And then there was play that could've iced the game. With the Giants up 23-20, Darius Slayton was all alone in the Washington secondary sprinting towards the end zone. Jones threw a perfect pass to him. All he had to do was catch it and his team would've been up by ten with just over 6 minutes left. Instead, the ball bounced off his fingers and landed in the end zone. The Giants settled for another field goal, making the score 26-20. That's eleven points that got away.

Even with all that, the Giants still could've won this game. That's because kicker Dustin Hopkins, with five seconds left and his team trailing by two, did his best impersonation of Scott Norwood and kicked what should've been a game-winning 48-yard field goal wide right. Game over. Giants win, right?

Wrong!

Dexter Lawrence, who was lined up over the center, jumped offsides, thus giving Hopkins a shot at redemption. And unlike the Giants, when presented with a second chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, Hopkins didn't blow it. He nailed it as time expired, and for the fifth year in a row, the Giants start the season 0-2.

It's getting a little tiresome to keep saying this. But sine its last Super Bowl win in 2011, this franchise, save for the 2016 season, has been one of the worst in the NFL. It constantly finds new ways to lose. Last night was particularly tragic because for much of the game, the Giants were clearly the better team on the field. Jones looked great, the offensive line did its job, Saquon Barkley had a nice run for 41 yards, and kicker Graham Gano nailed five field goals. This team deserved a better fate than the one the football gods ordained for it.

Since his arrival in New York, Joe Judge has promised Giants fans that this team would be a blue-collar team that will "punch you in the nose for 60 minutes." Well, last week they laid an egg and last night they shot themselves in the foot. The simple truth is there are still way too many careless mistakes that are being made at critical junctures. The irony of last night's mistake was that it occurred on special teams, Judge's last coaching job with the Patriots.

Is the season over? A lot depends on what happens next Sunday against the Falcons at MetLife. Atlanta is one of the worst teams in the league, so the Giants should be 1-2 after three weeks. Unfortunately, they go on the road to New Orleans to play the Saints in week four. So, 1-3. The frustrating thing is that Denver and Washington were winnable games that got away. In a 17 game schedule, games like that don't grow on trees.

The bottom line is this: until Judge gets this team to play a full 60 minutes of mistake-free football, any chance of winning a division title will continue to remain elusive. It's on him to right this ship and to hold his players accountable. As I wrote in my last piece, the jury is still out on whether he is the best coach to lead this franchise.

Will the Giants Benefit From Playing in the NFC East?

Last year, the Giants finished an abysmal 6-10, yet were still mathematically alive for a playoff spot pending the result of the Philadelphia / Washington game. And had former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson not decided to bench quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second half, the Jints might've snuck in. Unfortunately, he benched Hurts and the Washington Football Team wound up winning the game and, with it, the division with an underwhelming 7-9 record.

Welcome to the NFC Least, where mediocrity is the norm and excellence is a word best left to other teams. Indeed, it remains to be seen if the team that wins the division will even have a winning record. Thursday night's game between the Cowboys and Buccaneers notwithstanding, I haven't seen any evidence that indicates the road to Super Bowl 56 will go through any of this division's cities.

So, when all is said and done, will the Giants be the ones left standing after week 18? Remember starting this season each team has to play 17 games. The defense won't be the problem. In fact, this team should have one of the better defenses in the league. So where are the concerns? It comes down to several:

The Offensive Line. While it began to jell in the second half of last season, it reverted back to form during this preseason. Basically, it's still a work in progress, and if last year's number one pick Andrew Thomas doesn't pan out, this will be another in a long series of lost years.

Daniel Jones. The guy Dave Gettlemam took sixth overall in 2019 is entering his third season and, suffice to say, there's a lot riding on his shoulders. The issue is not his arm; it's his judgement. In a nutshell, he continues to make rookie mistakes. His decision in the Patriots game to force a throw into the end zone that got picked off is typical of so many errant passes he has thrown throughout his brief career. And while he's only thrown 22 INTs over two years, it's the timing of those pics that's problematic. When you combine that with his lack of pocket presence and the fact that the Giants have two first-round picks in next year's draft, this is Jones's make or break season.

Joe Judge. Judge's system of discipline has given this franchise something it hasn't had since Tom Coughlin was shown the door: accountability. But while Judge may have learned at the feet of legends like Nick Saban and Bill Belichick, it remains to be seen if his tough, take no prisoners approach is well suited to today's NFL. If the team gets off to another slow start, will he be able to hold the locker room? Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is on the hot seat. Jones has not progressed the way the organization had hoped he would, and the play calling has been predictable. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham seems on solid ground, but overall, the jury is still out on the rest of this group.

Saquon Barkley. The most talented offensive player on the team has had season-ending injuries the last two years. It is critical for the Giants that Barkley return to form, or at least as close to it as possible. Garrett will have to proceed with caution with the star running back over the first few games. That won't be easy given Barkley's nature and that fact that game two is next Thursday night. If Barkley does manage to stay healthy and Garrett can successfully thread the needle, the Giants might just have the multi-dimensional offense they've been dreaming about since they drafted the Penn State stud in 2018.

Washington and Dallas. The Washington Football Team has the best front seven in the league and Dallas's offense will rank in the top five or six. But both have their own issues to contend with. The Cowboys defense was horrific last season and even with the addition of Micah Parsons, it won't be that much better this season. Washington will go with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB and hope they squeeze one more year out of that 38 year old arm. If you could somehow combine Dallas's offense with Washington's defense, you'd have a Super Bowl contender. Unfortunately, you can't. And therein lies the problem for both teams.

One final thought: In 2016, the Giants made it to the postseason as a wild card on the strength of an outstanding secondary and a below average offense. One can only wonder what a healthy Barkley would've meant to this team in 2020. Remember, they only missed the playoffs by a single game last year.

That being said, here are my final predictions for the NFC East:

Washington: 9-8

Dallas: 8-9

Giants: 8-9

Eagles: 5-12

As with all my predictions, you can take them with a grain of salt. And if you're dumb enough to wager any money on them and you lose, my evil twin Ivan is the one responsible.