This is how the season ends.
Not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Heavy sigh.
Before the 2022 season began, I thought the Giants might win seven games if they got a few breaks, and in a sense that's pretty much what they did when they jumped out to a 7-2 record. But as injuries began to mount up, as their schedule became less favorable, and as their dearth of talent become more obvious, they seemed to fold a bit down the stretch, even though they secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2016,
and won their first playoff game since 2011. And so, they were sent packing by a much more talented team that seemed to manhandle them with ease.
Still, I have to view this past season as a net positive. I never expected the Giants to contend. I never thought they could go "from worst to first." I really just wanted to see a front office that didn't have its head up its ass, coupled with a coaching staff that would make the most out of what it had. In both cases I was very pleased with what I saw, and I feel pretty good about the team going forward. It seems like the team is in good hands, on and off the field.
I'm not an "x's and o's" guy, nor am I anything close to a "capologist" (far from it, in fact). Neither am I an accomplished evaluator of talent. Thankfully, though, there are many here who are all of those things, so I look forward to reading what they have to say, as I have for many years. When I feel the need to chime in, I will, and as is my wont, I will always go for the laugh.
Am I depressed? You bet your ass I am. But I'm hopeful. Hopeful that the Giants are on the right track. Hopeful that they've taken the first steps in righting what had been a floundering ship (that was for you, section125). They may not be contenders just yet, but they damn sure aren't laughing stocks anymore, and at this stage of the game I'll take it and like it.
Rant over. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
More work to do but it was a fun season. I was hoping for a more competitive finish though considering the travel and expense to go to that game. I showed up I wish they did too
That all happened before things settled down. This does not even account for the multiple banged up players that missed multiple games and came back a little hampered. To have all that happen and to make the playoffs in our new head coaches and GM's rookie season is not too shabby.
Don't get hung up on the trouncing the Giants took. There was a team that got beat in the playoffs 49-3, in 1986, and two years later in 1988 and 1989 won consecutive Super Bowls. So much changes in 1 season.
Hopefully with FA and the draft adding some talent, as well as some of our injured players coming back, the Giants will be good enough to better compete in the division.
NYG were destroying teams through most of 2008. They were defending champs. Historically great. Early Nov 2008 NYG > Philly 2022. From that moment in NOV of 2008 on, through all of 2009 the Giants were an average football team.
1980 the Giants were terrible. 1981 through 90 they were an elite franchise with really only one bad season (83)
The Giants of 2003 were a horror show. Two years later a new glorious era of NYG football was transpiring.
Philly sucked in 2020.
It changes on a dime. Age and attrition plays a big part but it starts with the draft. Contrary to what many might want to admit or think, NYG have drafted a bunch of very good to great players from 2018 through now. We have a base to work with. Just stay the course and let Daboll and his staff work their magic. We should be fine.
Chin up Klaatu. From here, hopefully, we will be able to get "three sheets to the wind" on Sunday afternoons in the fall without further fear of the dreaded Giants founder into the Davey Jones' locker of the NFC East and the only thing floundering will be us approaching the fridge for another round of our favorite grog as we celebrate another victory!
Feel good! Enjoy the off-season and Klaatu barada nikto!