The New York Giants (2-12) are winding their way through the final weeks of a lost season. This week, the Giants are on the road to face the 7-7 Atlanta Falcons, who still have a chance to win the NFC South. Here are some of this week’s storylines.
Quarterback conundrums
Both teams have them.
The Giants could be forced to start Tim Boyle, who would be their fourth starting quarterback since Week 10. Tommy DeVito has a concussion. Drew Lock has a heel injury that kept him in a walking boot most of last week. As of Monday, head coach Brian Daboll didn’t know if either quarterback would be available this week.
That means the Giants might have to sign another quarterback just to have a healthy backup for Boyle on Sunday.
The Falcons have their own quarterback issues.
Kirk Cousins, signed to a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason, is already in danger of losing his job to first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. Cousins has thrown nine interceptions and has just one touchdown pass over the last five games. Cousins was called out by his head coach after Monday, and could find himself on the bench soon.
To win or not to win?
The 9.5-point spread aside, this is a game the Giants can win. The Falcons had lost four straight games before Monday, when they barely found a way to beat the 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders.
Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen want to win. It would help them case build to get a fourth season with the Giants. The players want to win. This is their career and they always want to win. Many of these guys are playing for the right to compete for jobs next season, with the Giants or elsewhere, and they will give everything they have.
If you care more about the 2025 NFL Draft order, though, you probably don’t think winning is such a hot idea. The three-game winning streak with Tommy DeVito at quarterback a year ago probably cost the Giants the opportunity to draft Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. Do that, maybe the Giants are the Washington Commanders this season instead of, well, instead of the 2-12 Giants.
Earlier this week, Chris Pflum detailed how one victory over the Giants’ final three games could push them from first or second in the draft order all the way down to No. 7. That could put them back in “trade up or miss out on a quarterback” territory again.
Top 10 draft order
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12 | 0.538)
- New York Giants (2-12 | 0.550)
- New England Patriots (3-11 | 0.462)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11 | 0.483)
- Carolina Panthers (3-11 | 0.496)
- Tennessee Titans (3-11 | 0.508)
- Cleveland Browns (3-11 | 0.525)
- New York Jets (4-10 | 0.508)
- Chicago Bears (4-10 | 0.559)
- New Orleans Saints (5-9 | 0.496)
Young players to watch
The injury-ravaged Giants are playing a number of young players who could be fighting for spots with the Giants, or elsewhere. Some have been impressive in recent games.
Players to watch include right tackle Evan Neal, defensive tackles Elijah Chatman and Jordon Riley, cornerback Art Green, linebacker Darius Muasau and perhaps even wide receiver Jalin Hyatt.
