Yes, there are still things we can learn in the season finale
The 3-13 New York Giants — fresh off a victory in Week 17 — square off against the 13-3 Philadelphia Eagles in a Week 18 matchup to conclude the Giants’ season. The Eagles are bound for the post-season and locked into the two-seed, and will sit many of their starters.
The Giants will be trying their hardest to win on Sunday in Philadelphia; the last game the Giants won at Lincoln Financial Field was in 2013. New York is a 3-point underdog.
In this week’s edition of When the Giants have the football, we’ll take a look at key offensive players on the Giants who are either playing for their future with the Giants or are attempting to put quality tape into the NFL ether. We’ll start with Drew Lock.
Drew Lock, QB
Lock was abysmal prior to Week 17. He threw one touchdown pass, three pick-sixes, and four interceptions. Every time Daboll spoke to the media, including this week, he made a point to stress the importance of the quarterback position and protecting the football. Essentially, Daboll was illuminating his reality as a coach and the quarterbacks he’s been provided.
Lock was efficient and effective on Sunday. He was 17 of 23 for 309 yards with five total touchdowns (one rushing). It was his second-highest completion percentage over expected (+9.7%) of his career. Lock excelled when kept clean in the pocket, completing 11-of-13 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns when not pressured, setting career highs.
Lock signed a one-year, $5 million contract during the off-season. He now has 933 passing yards, five touchdowns, and four picks with a 55.9% completion rate. It’s unlikely Lock returns to the Giants, but it behooves the 28-year-old to finish the year strong after a mostly tumultuous stint as a Giant.
Evan Neal, OT
Will Evan Neal ever move inside to guard? I have no clue. Should he? Probably, yes. However, Neal has played better since his return to the starting lineup. He appears more confident and precise with his technique, albeit the balance issues, stiffness, and lack of foot-speed remain a problem.
I’m interested to see how he finished the season. Sure, his lows are low, and those plays circulate X with haste, but they’re not nearly as frequent as they were in his previous two seasons. He hasn’t exactly been challenged by top edge defenders, but we have to start somewhere, right?
Jake Kubas, IOL
The undrafted North Dakota State Bison responded well to his opportunity in the stead of Jon Runyan Jr. Kubas started right guard next to Evan Neal in Week 17 after starting left guard against the Falcons. He continues to look competent and poised at guard, even in the absence of starting center John Michael Schmitz in Week 17 (Greg Van Roten started at center).
Van Roten is not getting any younger and Kubas may find himself in a training camp battle to start at guard next season. Both Van Roten and veteran guard Aaron Stinnie signed one-year contracts in the off-season. The Giants will likely either retain Van Roten, sign a veteran guard, or draft a rookie at the position — possibly all three; it’s still great to see a capable NFL player found after the draft. Kubas has a place in the NFL; with good play down the stretch, that place could be in East Rutherford, N.J.
Daniel Bellinger, TE
Bellinger personifies the tight end position. A tough player whose impact isn’t necessarily evident in the stat sheet. His blocking prowess was obvious when he earned the starting job as a rookie, but the addition of Darren Waller in 2023 and the selection of Theo Johnson have relegated him to a backup role.
Bellinger never played more than 36% of snaps when Johnson was healthy, but the third-year tight end assumed an almost full-time role after the Penn State rookie hurt his foot. Bellinger is coming off his highest snap-share of the season (89%).
He has 12 catches on 15 targets for 115 scoreless yards this season. He only saw three targets when Johnson was healthy. The Giants have trusted Bellinger in one-on-one back-side blocking scenarios in recent games. These are tough assignments for tight ends, but Bellinger can hold his own.
Chris Manhertz and Bellinger could help the Giants establish a DUO rushing scheme against the Philly defense. We may also see more Bellinger on quick release rollouts versus the Eagles. Either way, Bellinger has one more year left under contract and he is quality depth for the Giants who provides the necessary toughness in the trenches to run or pass block effectively.
Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
There’s no mincing words — these two dynamic offensive players are entrenched in the Giants’ plans moving forward. Both players surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards on the same drive against the Colts. Nabers is one catch away from tying Puka Nacua’s rookie season reception record for wide receivers; Raiders’ tight end Brock Bowers set the record last week with 108, but he’s a TIGHT END! (let us have this!).
Nabers has 104 catches on 162 targets for 1,140 yards and six touchdowns on the season. He caught seven passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns last week, as he continues to add more statistics to his Giants’ rookie receiving records.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. has 780 rushing yards (4.4 YPC) with five touchdowns on the ground. The fifth-round selection out of Purdue has flashed his receiving skills this season, albeit his drops are uncharacteristic. He’s secured 36 passes for 277 yards with one receiving touchdown against the Falcons. He does have five fumbles, which is problematic, but he’s been one of the lone offensive bright spots all season.
