IN RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSY — For the New York Giants, Sunday’s 24-6 loss in New Orleans felt all too familiar. It was the same old tale: a lopsided defeat was caused by a flurry of sacks allowed, a pass-happy offense, and a deficiency in pass rush.
Any hopes of an incredible playoff berth were dashed with the loss. It also put a stop to the Tommy DeVito train and revived discussions about selecting a quarterback in the draft. It deflated these last three games, especially the Christmas Day game this week against the Philadelphia Eagles, the rival team.
Based on ESPN Analytics, the Giants (5-9) currently have a 0.1% probability of making the playoffs. Most significantly, they currently have a 58% chance of being selected in the top five of the NFL draft in 2024. They will be significant underdogs in all three of their remaining games, which include two games each against the Los Angeles Rams and Eagles, and they are even still in the running for a top-two choice.
The national audience will be watching the primetime game on Monday afternoon between the Giants and Eagles, which is primarily for pride and draft status.
“All of us are experts. Prepare to engage in gameplay. It’s what we do,” head coach Brian Daboll declared. “Look forward to the opportunity to play [Monday].”
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In the last three weeks, DeVito still has a lot to gain.
The Eagles have long held the upper hand in this matchup. Of the last 19 games, they have won 16 of them. Over the last ten years, the Giants have been pursuing Philadelphia, particularly in the offseason following their 38-7 playoff defeat in Philadelphia earlier this year.
After the previous season, general manager Joe Schoen stated of the Eagles and the entire NFC East, “There’s a talent gap there that we need to close.”
It doesn’t seem promising thus far. Nonetheless, over the last three weeks, these teams do play twice.
DeVito’s stock would rise significantly if he were to win in Philadelphia and put on a strong show. If he can do something that not many quarterbacks for the Giants have been able to do in recent years, how can he not be perceived differently? With a second massive performance in three weeks in front of the entire country, how could it not open eyes?
DeVito wasn’t particularly good against the Saints, but he wasn’t awful either. With the entire offense failing, it is difficult to place the full blame for the loss on him. Seven sacks and rapid pressure were permitted by the line. In just the first half, three passes were intercepted by his top three receivers.
Despite this, in his first five career starts, the unusual rookie starter has thrown seven touchdowns to just one interception. Rekindling DeVito fever would be a major addition to his already impressive list of accomplishments, should the Eagles lose. Given how remarkable the accomplishment would be, he might have the chance to start for the Giants the following season.
Alternatively, DeVito might falter against the more skilled Eagles, as most Giants quarterbacks have done in the last ten years, and this narrative would finish in 2023.
According to DeVito, victory would be “huge.” That would look fantastic on his resume.
“I never played against the Eagles before in the league, so my slate at the moment is 0-0,” DeVito stated. “So I look forward to going out and trying to be 1-0.”
Daboll was keen to note that the Eagles “got a lot of talent” on their football squad on several occasions on Wednesday. On Monday, the Eagles are 12-point favorites.
However, the Giants still have pride to lose after suffering three losses to Philadelphia last season, including a humiliating 31-point loss in the postseason.
That previous season’s playoff defeat still stings.
Linebacker Micah McFadden responded, “Yeah, I mean, without a doubt.” “Whenever you get knocked out of the playoffs like that — obviously, we don’t think about the past too much, kind of focus on what’s ahead of us, but that definitely stung a little bit to get knocked out by a team in your division.”
If this miserable season culminates in two more losses to their fierce rivals and demonstrates that the difference is much wider than they initially believed, it won’t feel any better.
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