The New York Giants were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday evening, with the Washington Football Team overcoming the Philadelphia Eagles. While the Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys to put themselves in a position of hope, they desperately needed the Eagles to secure a victory, but not only did they lose, they did it in embarrassing fashion.
Head coach Doug Pederson unexplainably took out quarterback Jalen Hurts, inserting Nate Sudfeld, indicating after the game that he was trying to win. If the Eagles were truly trying to extract a victory from this performance, they would’ve left Huets in or at least started Carson Wentz/Sudfeld to see if he was motivated by being benched several weeks ago. Ultimately, the Eagles tanked on national television, and there’s no other way to describe it.
A lack of respect for the game and integrity was displayed on national television, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should discipline the Eagles for making a mockery of the league and disrespecting teams that fought for a chance at a playoff spot earlier on in the day.
Now, that is not to say that the Giants couldn’t have performed better during the season, as a six-win team should never be in the playoffs, to begin with. The Giants had their opportunities to walk away with victories, especially in the first contest against the Eagles earlier on in the season when Evan Engram dropped a deep ball that would’ve secured the win.
However, Big Blue and head coach Joe Judge look ahead, as decisions have to be made on general manager Dave Gettleman and how they will utilize their draft selection 2021. Of course, decisions on Leonard Williams, Dalvin Tomlinson, and a bevy of players hitting the free-agent market will unfold in the coming months.
For now, we can reflect back on a season that was full of challenges due to COVID-19 and injuries to players like Saquon Barkley, Lorenzo Carter, and Oshane Ximines.
Where do the New York Giants stand in the NFL draft:
The Giants currently hold the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, putting them in a spot where they could potentially land a player like Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle, Florida tight and Kyle Pitts, or even star edge rusher Gregory Rousseau from Miami.
The Giants have weak links at multiple positions, but wide receiver remains a big one. Securing a WR1 would be a big deal for Daniel Jones, especially with Saquon Barkley preparing to make his return in 2021. However, adding an elite pass rusher like Gregory would be beneficial. It seems as if the defense is already in a good place, and a year of experience under their belt should benefit them tremendously. The offense is the unit that desperately needs assistance, so I expect the draft selection to go their way.
I do believe that the Giants are trending up, based on Judge’s influence and the change in culture. Some may not agree with the decision to hold onto Daniel Jones, but I believe that will be the reality this off-season. Nonetheless, prepare for plenty of draft breakdowns and film analysis on these fantastic prospects.