The headline is that the Giants lost a bleeder, on a 61 yard FG at the end of the game. While it was a nasty loss, I have the same view of this game’s result as I do with the loss vs Dallas on Thanksgiving:
In a rebuilding year with a weak roster, the Giants are going to lose games to playoff teams. Yet because they are nonetheless very competitive, they make important strides.
- Shorthanded. Hands tied behind their back- consider that in the second half, 4 of their best players on defense
Azeez Ojulari
Leonard Williams
Adoree Jackson
Xavier McKinney
were not on the field. Do you think anyone of them, let alone ALL of them, would have made a difference? Indeed, when Williams and Ojulari were on the field in the first half, the Vikings offense was less effective. - Player development. Isaiah Hodgins has become an effective WR in a half dozen games. James dropped a key 3rd down pass, showing the thinness of the roster, yet he also was a meaningful contributor to the effort.
- Daniel Jones. The Giants have their QB. It is over. Schoen will be re-signing Jones to a multi-year deal. Daniel Jones has not only galvanized his own play, he has become a trusted leader of the team. Jones’s ascendency is arguably the greatest single development of the NY Giants franchise in 2022.
It is imperfect. Ojulari seemingly cannot stay healthy. And Evan Neal has not made improvements in his rookie season.
This NY Giants blog has not mentioned the playoffs at all this season. It is gravy. Either they will get to taste the postseason or not. And while that would be positive, it is not critical to this season’s outcome. We want to see the players get that. They want it. Yet we saw what happened vs Philadelphia 3 games ago and know this roster is not ready for primetime.
The Giants may have lost the battle this week vs Minnesota. But they are going to win this war. They have a Head Coach, a GM, and a QB. That is more than enough for 2022. It is huge for 2023 and beyond. Onward.