Giants-Colts Week 17 preview: 5 storylines to watch

The first one on the list might be the only truly interesting one

The New York Giants — mercifully — play their final home game of the season on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Let’s get to some of the storylines.

What will the plane say?

It’s a joke, But, then again, it isn’t really a joke. With the Giants at 2-13 and appearing to go backward instead of forward as a franchise, disgruntled fans have hired planes to carry banners with messages for co-owner John Mara at each of the past two games.

In Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints the message was “Mr. Mara enough … plz. fix this dumpster fire.”

In Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens the message was “Mr. Mara enough — We won’t stop until you fire everyone.”

Now that planes carrying pre-game messages for ownership has become a thing in this terrible season for the Giants, you know there will be one buzzing over MetLife Stadium Sunday morning.

What will it say?

0-9 at home?

The Giants, as we have mentioned many times, can become the first team in NFL history to finish a season 0-9 at home should they lose to the Colts on Sunday. It is a bit misleading to say “NFL history” because playing nine games at home only became possible when the league expanded to a 17-game season in 2021.

Regardless, it is a mark Giants players and coaches would rather not set.

“You put everything you got into it,” said head coach Brian Daboll.

The Giants have been outscored 214-85, in their eight home losses, an average margin of 16.1 points per game. The planes, fans wearing bags over their heads, empty seats and disgruntled patrons who do bother to show up leaving early have become commonplace at MetLife this season.

Can the Giants avoid a winless season at home?

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Is winning even a good idea?

I always believe there is value in winning games, no matter the circumstances. Still do. Always will. For players and coaches, this is their livelihood. Winning is what they do it for. I can never tell a player who is putting his body and career on the line on every snap, who might not have another NFL season to look forward to, that not giving his best, not trying to win is a good idea.

Yet, there is a reality to face that no matter who the head coach or GM is the Giants need their own Jayden Daniels or C.J. Stroud if they are going to have a real chance to end this losing cycle they have been on for more than a decade now.

As of today, the Giants own the No. 1 overall pick in draft. There are only two quarterbacks worthy of selection at the top of the draft, three if you include Jalen Milroe. Currently, the Giants have their pick of the litter. A win on Sunday and all three might be out of reach, just like Daniels and Drake Maye were out of reach a year ago.

Final home game for Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll?

We don’t know what ownership will choose to do regarding GM Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll. If the Giants end up 2-15 with 13 straight losses to close the season it will be difficult to keep Daboll. Not impossible, but difficult.

If the Giants don’t keep Daboll, do they keep the GM he has been tied to since both came from the Buffalo Bills in 2022?

There are still three paths — fire both, keep both, fire Daboll/keep Schoen. Where the wheel lands remains anybody’s guess at this point. What happens on Sunday could still tilt the odds.

Here’s one opinion:

And a Christmas message from former Giant Lawrence Tynes:

Who’s at quarterback?

That has been a weekly question since the Giants did what they had to do for the benefit of their future at 2-8 and moved on from Daniel Jones.

The current starter of choice, Drew Lock, came out of Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons needing an MRI on his throwing shoulder. We have no idea if he will play.

Considering how poorly Lock has played in his three starts does it really matter if it is Lock, Tommy DeVito or Tim Boyle at quarterback vs. the Colts? None of them should be starting NFL games.