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From Big Blue View
Other Giant observations
Burns doesn’t worry that he might be remembered as a star player who spent his entire career stuck on losing teams.
“No, because I see where we’re going,” he said. “We’ve got our guy [Dart]. And throughout my years in Carolina, it was always a struggle to find the guy to play the most important position on the field. But apparently, we have him. So I don’t think [losing a lot] is going to be in my future. If you think too much about the window, you’re going to lose it.”
The college world’s view of the Giants interest in Marcus Freeman
Kayvon Thibodeaux adamant on return to Giants despite lingering injury | New York Post
“I’m still feeling good and shooting for the last two [games],” Thibodeaux told The Post. “I have to come back; I have to play. Obviously, I just want to play football, but I still feel a certain level of pride in this team and I still feel a certain level of expectation on myself to leave everything on the field. The fact that we still have some opportunities left, I can’t sit and think about what else is to come. As long as I’m healthy and I can play, then I’m going to play. For what I injured, you can’t play if you can’t play. I’m definitely going to make sure that I’m able to do my job at a high level.”
Giants’ Cor’Dale Flott can make impression vs. former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson | New York Daily News
Giants corner Cor’Dale Flott has already made himself money in free agency with the way he has covered receivers this season amid the team’s constant losing. But Sunday presents a unique opportunity: the chance to lock down one of the NFL’s best receivers, the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, who just so happens to be Flott’s former teammate at LSU.
“My old teammate, my guy, but an elite receiver, top of the game,” Flott said with a smile. “So I’ve got to come in with my mind right and be ready to compete…He’s elusive, catch radius is great, coming in and out of his breaks. You can’t just put him in a frame and say he’s this type of receiver. That’s what I think makes him elite. Some receivers you can say, ‘He’s a down the field guy] or ‘he’s an intermediate guy.’ He can do it all. So kudos to him.”
Inside Jaxson Dart’s biggest NFL challenge yet as Giants quarterback | The Record
Jaxson Dart is doing everything he can to be ready for the challenges that come with facing a Brian Flores-coordinated defense for the Minnesota Vikings.
Flores will try to test seemingly every facet of Dart’s development as the quarterback of the New York Giants when they take the MetLife Stadium field against each other on Sunday afternoon. ESPN’s Dan
Orlovsky compares Jaxson Dart approach this Sunday – counter to how he likes to play – to how Tom Brady tweaked his mindset when facing Rex Ryan.
Q: What’s something only someone in your seat would notice about [Jaxon Dart]?
Kafka: I think what you see is what you get with him. He’s a confident kid. He cares about his teammates. He cares about his craft. He loves football. The things that you see, what you see is really what you get. I really appreciate that. He’s himself. He’s not trying to be anybody else. He’s always going to be himself, and you’ve got to love a guy like that.
PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for the Week 16 NFL games | PFF
Giants tight end Theo Johnson is developing into a key pass catcher for the Giants, especially on third down, where he leads the position in receiving yards (260) and ranks tied for third in conversions (12). Four of those conversions came from contested catches, which also co-leads all tight ends. Minnesota is the league’s fifth-best third-down defense, though (36% conversion rate allowed).
Tyrone Tracy details the success of the run game
NY Giants Can Surprise People in 2026 — If These 5 Things Are Addressed | SI.com
Stop the run. No, you are not experiencing deja vu. New York’s run defense remains putrid, ranked 31st in the league. The Giants as a whole have failed to mount adequate resistance against opposing running backs. They are giving up an NFL-worst 5.6 yards per carry and have allowed the second-most rushing yards per game (153.6).
Imagine how this team would look if it could control the tempo on defense. The late-game implosions that fans have become numb to should occur much less frequently if New York is more organized at the first and second levels. The organization would be wise to either re-sign McFadden or add a reliable veteran linebacker, such as Alex Anzalone or Alex Singleton. A little more help in this area could go a long way in 2026.
BIGGEST WISH: Coaching stability. Since Tom Coughlin resigned in January 2016, Big Blue has endured one disaster after another. First, it was Ben McAdoo and his oversized suit going 13-15. Pat Shurmur bumbled his way to 9-23. Joe Judge was in over his head, finishing 10-23. Brian Daboll at least won a playoff game before bottoming out, ending his run this year with a 20-40-1 record. The Giants have been rudderless for a decade. New York has to nail this hire. The next coaching staff must be able to get the best out of quarterback Jaxson Dart while turning around a moribund defense. Another swing-and-miss on the coaching hire, and we’ll be right back here in two years writing a similar blurb.
Who is the best prospect fit right now for them at No. 1? Arvell Reese, Edge/linebacker, Ohio State.. Like the Titans, the Giants have their QB in place with Dart. With edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, Reese could turn into an edge rusher, off-ball linebacker hybrid if Thibodeaux is not brought back. Simply taking a best player available approach, he would make a lot of sense as another key addition on a defense with plenty of young talent.
This week’s opponent
PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for the Week 16 NFL games | PFF
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s 9.9-yard average depth of target ranks second among qualifying quarterbacks, and his deep passing has been on point over the past two games: six completions on nine attempts for 171 yards and a touchdown, including four big-time throws.
While the second-year signal-caller is struggling to connect with Justin Jefferson on deep throws (zero catches on three targets in Weeks 14 and 15), other Vikings pass catchers have stepped up, including Jordan Addison (three catches for 99 yards) and Jalen Nailor (two catches for 43 yards and a touchdown). McCarthy is primed to continue to take shots against a Giants defense that has given up 28 deep completions this season (tied for the second most).
Around the league
Seahawks’ Derick Hall suspended one game for unsportsmanlike act vs. Rams | The Athletic
Bears CB Nick McCloud is the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 16 | Pro Football Talk
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