“Red sky at night sailors delight” may be what Giants fans say to themselves on the eve before the season opener. However, I believe the waters may be choppy (again) for the Giants this year. But is there any hope? Let’s talk about the reality for the Giants in their 100th season.
First, let’s start off by talking about what’s in everyone’s minds: Sunday, 1pm ET, MetLife Stadium. The Giants come into the opener against the Minnesota Vikings completely healthy, which is a positive. Despite that, and facing a Minnesota team that doesn’t have high expectations for the 2024 season either, Big Blue goes into tomorrow’s game as an underdog at -1.5 according to ESPN Bet. Here’s what I think we can expect.
The Giants had an intense training camp instead of a mellow one in 2023. I believe tomorrow’s game will be physical on both sides of the ball. Expect the Giants to be more aggressive on offense with what we’ve seen as the focus in camp and the addition of a bonified WR1 like Malik Nabers, something the Giants haven’t had in quite some time.
Defensively, the strength lies up front for New York. Brian Burns, paired with Dexter Lawrence and Bobby Okereke in the middle, is a quarterback’s nightmare. However, in the defensive backfield, not so scary. The Giants have one of the youngest defensive backfields in the NFL and struggled at times during training camp. With Justin Jefferson lining up on the other side. It could be a long day for the Giants secondary. That said, I see a physical low-scoring game that demonstrates bend but doesn’t break
defenses. I think, ultimately, the Vikings will prevail over the Giants 26-16. But it won’t be easy.
The Giants will have a chance to hold Minnesota in the final minutes and get the ball back for a chance. But a late penalty will put the Vikings into field goal range to seal the deal.
Now, let’s examine the reality of the 2024 season for the GMEN. Let’s start with the quarterback, Daniel Jones.
After an abysmal pre season tune up where he threw 2 picks, and 1 pick six, Daniel Jones, who tore his ACL last season seemingly has one more chance to prove himself as a New York Giant. And I know many fans do not want to hear me say this, is the starter whether we like it or not. After Joe Schoen struck out on a deal with the Patriots that would send pick number 3 in the 2024 NFL draft to the Giants, the team had no interest in bringing in a vet to start. There were several available, Tannehill and Tyrod Taylor. But It’s a win-win for Joe Schoen. Let Daniel Jones play it out, and have the option to bring him back and have a chance at a higher draft pick if things go wrong. It’s really a win-win for the GM.
Next, Brian Daboll or Joe Schoen may be a casualty of this season, but it won’t be his fault. I believe talent has been added to this team, I really do. But talent has also been lost. Saquon is gone, and Xavier McKinney is gone.
The Giants are still not an all-around talented team. Therefore, both coach and GM don’t have much to work with.
I see another 4,5,6 win season. And the scapegoat is usually the HC or GM. Do I think both of them will be canned? I don’t. I don’t think John Mara can sit there with a clear conscience and fire Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen. Either way, Daboll and Joe are thinking about the future, not the present.
They know they do not have a competitive team in this league. Will the Giants be brutal to put away at times this year? Yes. But they aren’t even a tier away from Dallas and Philadelphia who have outscored Daboll and Schoen by a combined 291 to 150 during their Giants tenure. It’s about building this
team to contend with in a year or two.
Move on from Daniel Jones after this season. Use a high draft pick on a quarterback. And continue to add depth and improve the team with more cap space.
This may be the take that really stirs the pot, but Deonte Banks isn’t ready to be a CB1 in the NFL. He had a good rookie campaign with 2 INTs and 11 PBUs. But we saw Malik Nabers, a rookie, beat him up during camp and he also struggled against the Jets in their joint practice and the preseason game in Houston. He is a good player with a high ceiling, but he just isn’t ready to be the guy, especially with a supporting cast of Cor’dale Flott and Nick McCloud. I believe he needed another year under a vet to learn and thrive that way before being thrown into the spot he is currently in at the CB1 on the depth chart.
Final Predictions:
Record: 4-13
Daniel Jones: 3100 Yards, 22 TDs, 18 Passing, 4 Running, 11 INTS
Devin Singletary: 760 Yards, 5 TDs, 1 Receiving
Malik Nabers: 970 Yards, 6 TDs, 70 Receptions
Brian Burns: 7.5 Sacks, 17 TFLs
