THE STORYLINE:
The New York Giants finished the 2024 NFL season with a 3-14 record. Ownership decided to retain Head Coach Brian Daboll for his fourth season and not pursue Mike Vrabel. On the other hand, the Patriots finished the season with a 4-13 record and their ownership decided to fire Head Coach Jerod Mayo after just one season and hire Vrabel. While there are extenuating circumstances that impacted the outcome, such as the presence of quarterback Drake Maye, the results could not have been more different. The Giants are currently 2-10 while the Patriots are 10-2. Daboll was fired mid-season while Vrabel is a “coach of the year” candidate.
The uber-optimists will point to the Patriots as an example of what the Giants can do in 2026. But I cannot yet get past another missed opportunity to turn the franchise around, and I still fear that NYG ownership is going to make the wrong choices.
In the meantime, the latest iteration of the Giants humiliating, prolonged, funeral procession continues. While the team has remained surprisingly competitive under Mike Kafka, the losses continue to mount. For the eighth time in nine years, the Giants have lost 10 or more games. For all intents and purposes, they have become the Washington Generals of the NFL.
Is there a reason to watch? Sure. Kafka could still do enough to convince John Mara to retain him. Jaxson Dart returns from concussion. Charlie Bullen has replaced Shane Bowen as defensive coordinator. And the Giants will need to make decisions on a number of pending free agents, including the bulk of 2022 draft class.
THE INJURY REPORT:
- QB Jaxson Dart (Cleared Concussion Protocol – probable)
- WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Ankle – probable)
- WR Darius Slayton (Hamstring – probable)
- DL Dexter Lawrence (Elbow – probable)
- DL D.J. Davidson (Knee – probable)
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Shoulder – out)
- OLB Victor Dimukeje (Knee – questionable)
- ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Neck/Knee – questionable)
- ILB Swayze Bozeman (Hip – questionable)
- CB Paulson Adebo (Knee – probable)
- CB Deonte Banks (Hip – probable)
- CB Korie Black (Bicep – questionable)
- S Tyler Nubin (Neck – probable)
GIANTS ON OFFENSE:
This is not an endorsement to retain Mike Kafka or Tim Kelly, but both did an admirable job in getting the offense to perform as a higher-than-expected level against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, two teams with very respectable defenses. And that was with Jameis Winston at quarterback and a terrible receiving corps. There has been a commitment to run the ball and creativity (and fun) in the passing game. Now we get to see what these two can do with Jaxson Dart, albeit with the same limitations at wide receiver. There has been a smoke-and-mirrors feel to this, but it’s been working. Can they keep it up?
Speaking of Dart, how will he react to the concussion? Will he be rusty after missing a couple of games? Gun shy? Smarter in protecting himself? His old hard-charging self? This can go a number of ways. There will be the unavoidable impulse for fans to compare Maye (who the Giants tried to trade up for in 2024) with Dart.
Another unavoidable comparison will be the defenses. Shane Bowen was Mike Vrabel’s defensive coordinator in Tennessee. But more than ever, that appears to have been in name only. Vrabel’s defense in New England is currently 7th in yards allowed and 5th in points allowed. Bowen was finally let go with his defense not only bottom tier, but now infamous for surrendering five 4th-quarter leads. Regardless, the Giants’ offense will face yet another tough defense on Sunday, especially against the run as the Patriots are second in the NFL in run defense (allowing less than 88 yards per game).
As you watch this game, keep in mind that the following offensive players will be free agents shortly: WR Wan’Dale Robinson, WR Gunner Olszewski, WR Isaiah Hodgins, TE Daniel Bellinger, TE Chris Manhertz, RT Jermaine Eluemunor, and RG Greg Van Roten. This does not include back-ups OC Austin Schlottmann, OG Aaron Stinnie, OG Joshua Ezeudu, and OG Evan Neal. The tougher decisions will be Robinson and Eluemunor. The Giants should be careful not to overpay either.
GIANTS ON DEFENSE:
I usually do not like to play the “what might have been” card because I think those things typically even out. And I subscribe to the old adage that you are what your record says you are. That said, it’s hard not reflect that the Giants are five blown 4th-quarter leads from being 7-5. And some of those collapses were not your run-of-the-mill letdowns that you see every weekend in the NFL. They were historically unbelievable to the point where we will be talking about them years from now.
Herein lies the danger, however. Ownership, management, and coaching should not simply dismiss all of this as fluky. The Giants are 30th in yards allowed and 30th in points allowed for a reason. They are dead last in run defense for a reason. The coaching has sucked, but don’t fall into the trap of simply scapegoating the coaches. The defense has lacked both physical and mental toughness. Morale and confidence are in the toilet. The huge investments they have made at all three levels have not paid off, both in terms of free agent and draft capital. This is one of the highest-paid defenses in the NFL and yet they are one of the worst in the NFL. That’s not acceptable.
Enter Charlie Bullen, the outside linebackers coach who was surprisingly promoted to defensive coordinator. Why is this a surprise? Because Bullen has never been a defensive coordinator at any level of football. And he was chose ahead of Defensive Line Coach Andre Patterson (who was a defensive coordinator with the Vikings) and Secondary Coach Marquand Manuel (who was a defensive coordinator for the Falcons).
The pessimist in me says there isn’t much Bullen can do with only five games left. Much of the cake is already baked. The same personnel limitations remain. The optimist is me hopes that the green-as-grass coordinator can inspire a little more confidence, morale, and aggressiveness. Indeed, it will be interesting to see if Bullen simply calls a more aggressive game than the Bowen, who seemed to be afraid of his own shadow. If the Giants somehow are fortunate to find themselves with another 4th-quarter lead, how will the defense respond?
Pending free agents? DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DL D.J. Davidson, OLB Victor Dimukeje, ILB Micah McFadden, ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, ILB Neville Hewitt, ILB Zaire Barnes, CB Cor’Dale Flott, CB Nic Jones, CB Art Green, and S Dane Belton. The names of note there are Flott and Belton. McFadden is coming off a serious injury (lis franc).
GIANTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
Example #79 of why this current regime just feels off? Eric Gray, who was just activated off of the PUP, is back to returning kickoffs for some reason. He doesn’t seem particularly adept at it, and has fumbled six times in his short career. And he has now performed this roll under two different head coaches and two different special teams coordinators. Is Joe Schoen putting pressure on the coaches here? Sounds like conspiracy theory, but do you have a better explanation other than all of the NYG coaches just keep making stupid choices?
QUOTES:
Defensive Coordinator Charlie Bullen on if he has ever called the defensive plays: “I have not. This will be the first time.”
Bullen on if his defensive will be more aggressive: “It might be. It might be,” he said while smiling.
THE FINAL WORD:
Five more games. Why does that seem like an eternity still?