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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants find themselves at a critical juncture in the season, needing an extraordinary turnaround to secure a playoff spot. After their fourth consecutive defeat, a 27-22 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, the team now sits at a disappointing 2-7 with eight games remaining. For the Giants to have any chance at postseason play, they likely need to win all of their remaining games to avoid missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Despite these struggles, the Giants continue to play hard for head coach Brian Daboll, who led them to the playoffs in his inaugural year in 2022. The team boasts a mix of skillful players on both offense and defense, but consistency remains elusive. One of the most pressing issues has been their inability to score touchdowns, as the Giants have only managed 14 touchdowns in nine games, with none contributed by their defense. This results in an average of just 1.55 touchdowns per game, leading to a concerning scoring average of 15.4 points per game, even while featuring a restructured offensive line, first-round pick Malik Nabers catching passes, and a healthy Daniel Jones at quarterback.
Frustration is palpable within the organization, even as co-owner John Mara recently expressed confidence in Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. “I don’t think anybody should be happy,” Daboll remarked on Monday while acknowledging that the team is still fighting for solutions to improve their performance. He highlighted the importance of executing key plays that can influence game outcomes, asserting his commitment to finding ways to enhance the team’s results moving forward.
BetMGM Sportsbook indicates that the odds are stacked against the Giants. “The Giants are struggling this season, and bettors are inclined to wager against them,” said BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini. “Only 15% of bets were on New York to cover as 4-point underdogs on Sunday. While the Giants aren’t playing their best, fans of the G-Men can still hope for a significant payoff if the team turns things around.” He further noted that a $10 bet on the Giants to win the Super Bowl would pay out $10,000—indicative of their current standing.
In terms of what is working for the team, the pass rush has been a standout aspect of the Giants’ defense, leading the NFL with 35 sacks. Although they didn’t record any sacks against the Commanders, they pressured Washington’s offense sufficiently to force them to utilize extra blocking. Quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 15 of 22 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, but standout defensive player Dexter Lawrence currently leads the league with nine sacks, with teammates Azeez Ojulari and Brian Burns contributing six and five sacks, respectively.
On the flip side, the team’s scoring woes need urgent attention. With only 139 points scored over nine games, they find themselves with the second-fewest points in the league, trailing only Miami, which has scored 124 points in eight games. The Giants have shown flashes of capability, with the running game performing well one week and the passing game excelling the next, but consistency has been their significant hurdle, as the offensive line also appears to struggle with both blocking and pass protection from week to week.
In terms of player performances, Malik Nabers continues to shine. Despite not showcasing his deep-play potential as expected, he is having a breakout season. His performance on Sunday included nine catches for 59 yards, giving him a total of 55 receptions for 557 yards and three touchdowns over seven games. His early success places him alongside Puka Nacua of the Rams as one of only two NFL players to achieve 50 receptions in their first seven games.
Conversely, Deonte Banks, the first-round draft pick, has struggled to live up to expectations after a promising rookie year. Following a benching during a loss against Pittsburgh, he returned to the starting lineup but faced challenges, including getting beaten on two touchdown catches by Terry McLaurin during the game against Washington.
Injury concerns also plague the Giants, with starters like left tackle Andrew Thomas, outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, kicker Graham Gano, and backup kicker Greg Joseph on injured reserve. Thomas will miss the rest of the season due to foot surgery. Meanwhile, Thibodeaux and Gano could return soon. Additionally, punter Jamie Gillan has missed three games with a hamstring injury, and Nabers missed two games following a concussion in September.
One significant statistic looms large: since 2020, only one NFL team that started the season 2-7 has made the playoffs, which was the Washington Football Team that year. All teams in the NFC East recorded losing records that season, but Washington managed to win the division with a 7-9 record.
Looking ahead, the Giants face a challenging schedule, with three of their remaining eight opponents currently boasting winning records: the division-leading Falcons (6-3), the Ravens (6-3), and the Eagles (6-2), who recently defeated them decisively. However, there is potential for a turnaround in their next game against the struggling Panthers (2-7) in Munich.
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