Lost in New York: Recapping Giants-Eagles
QB Jake Fromm and RB Saquon Barkley, via Getty Images
The Giants marched into Lincoln Financial Field with a new young quarterback at the helm, explosive rookie wideout Kadarius Toney returning from injury, and the Eagles coming off a short week. Surely, there’s a chance Big Blue can keep this game the slightest bit watchable for fans?
Think again.
Everything that could have went wrong on offense went wrong. QB Jake Fromm, who looked pretty decent in his short stint against the Cowboys last week, looked like a deer in headlights for the game’s first 45 minutes. When asked if at any point did the Eagles think the Giants would move the ball, Eagles LB Alex Singleton kept it simple.
“No”
Both teams looked unmotivated in the first half, with drops and fumbles coming left and right. Eventually, the Eagles got it together and routed the Giants in embarrassing fashion, something that has become too common for a once-storied franchise. After a strong first half, the Giants defense let up 24 points in the second.
It would be unfair to hold the defense solely accountable, with a lifeless offense with underachieving playmakers failing to score a single second half point. The Giants offense didn’t eclipse 100 yards until the fourth quarter. Fromm finished 6/17 for 25 yards and an interception in his first NFL start, ultimately putting to bed any hope of him remaining with the team next season. RB Saquon Barkley continued to underperform, racking up 15 carries for 32 yards (2.1 yards a carry, not good). The 72 million dollar man Kenny Golladay was held to 3 catches for 22 yards in what has been a forgettable season in his once promising young career. The patchwork offensive line continues to turn heads (the opposite direction).
The offense generating nothing has been a consistent theme all season, with today’s performance taking the cake as the worst game yet. With only two weeks remaining, this nightmare of a season leaves Big Blue with many questions
And not many answers.
Daniel Jones and Joe Judge, via Robert Sabo
Adam Schefter surprisingly announced earlier Sunday that both HC Joe Judge and QB Daniel Jones are expected to be retained next season. This news surely left many shocked, especially given that Judge is 10-21 in his stint with the Giants. This could make the potential general manager job undesirable in a sense, given that Judge and Jones are being given another chance. Jones’s season stats seem below average, but after recent offensive performances, it’s pretty remarkable that he was able to get anything going at all. Since his last start against the Eagles, the Jones-less Giants have averaged 11.5 points per game. Yet even in the weeks prior to that, the offense simply looked lethargic. It seems as if every week Joe Judge takes responsibility for the offensive struggles, but never enacts upon his word. This obviously cannot continue next season, especially given the fact that not many expected Judge to retain his position.
The Giants have established themselves as one of the worst teams in the league in recent history, with a 22-57 record since 2017 (worst in the NFL, per StatMuse). With an increasingly impatient fanbase and five straight losing seasons looming, the pressure is on for Judge and Jones to make something happen in 2022.
The Giants play the Bears and Washington to close out the season.