The Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention in a year that started with high hopes
New York's 2-8 start certainly didn't help, even though undrafted free agent quarterback Tommy DeVito gave the team a flicker of hope by leading it on a late three-game winning streak.
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — A season that started with high expectations, visions of an explosive offense and a dominant defense and hopes of another trip to the playoffs has ended for the New York Giants.
The Giants (5-10) were eliminated from the postseason with their 33-25 loss at Philadelphia.
New York's 2-8 start certainly didn't help, even though undrafted free agent quarterback Tommy DeVito gave to the team a flicker of hope by leading it on a late three-game winning streak. The team's poor play early in the season and injuries to Saquon Barkley, Daniel Jones and Andrew Thomas combined to make Brian Daboll's second season not what many expected after he took the team to the playoffs in 2022.
RELATED: Tommy DeVito benched at halftime of Giants loss to the Eagles
That was the Giants' first postseason trip since 2016, and it was more encouraging when New York beat Minnesota in a wild-card game.
“Certainly, you’re disappointed,” Daboll said Tuesday. “You put everything you have into it each year to get an opportunity to compete in the postseason, but our focus and my focus right now is on to the next week and to do everything we can do to go out there and play a good game against the Rams.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Despite having slim playoff hopes after the bad start, credit the Giants for competing hard most of the season, even Monday when they rallied from a 20-3 halftime deficit. If they do that the final two weeks, they may play a spoiler role.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
The Eagles totaled 465 yards of offense and a lot of that had to do with bad tackling. Inside linebacker Micah McFadden missed a couple of tackles, and running back D'Andre Swift's 92 yards rushing was aided by defenders not bringing him down on first contact.
STOCK UP
Tyrod Taylor. Trailing 20-3 at the half, Daboll turned to the veteran backup quarterback for a spark and he delivered. The 34-year-old was 7 of 16 passing for 133 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown pass to Darius Slayton. Taylor was intercepted once. He also ran twice for 21 yards, helping New York convert 3 of 6 third downs in the half.
“My decision is to be ready when my number is called, and I think that I proved that (Sunday),” said Taylor, who had not played since breaking four ribs against the Jets in late October. “I will continue to keep preparing whether it is me moving forward or not.”
STOCK DOWN
DeVito got benched after failing to deliver a touchdown in seven straight quarters, dating to the third quarter against Green Bay. The undrafted rookie was 9 of 16 passing for 55 yards, while running once for 5 yards. New York was 1 of 8 on third down in the first half.
“I understand it’s a business,” DeVito said. “We weren’t scoring enough points, so the change was made.”
Daboll said he has not decided who will start the next game.
INJURIES
Daboll said P Jamie Gillan hurt a knee attempting to make a tackle on Britain Covey’s 54-yard return. Gillan had a groin injury coming into the game. ... RT Evan Neal, who was placed on injured reserve over the weekend, will require surgery on his ankle, the coach said.
KEY NUMBERS
69 — Slayton's 69-yard touchdown catch was not only the longest of his career, it was the Giants’ longest offensive play since Daniel Jones’ 80-yard run against the Eagles in 2020. It was their longest touchdown reception since Evan Engram’s 75-yarder in September of 2019. The Giants’ previous long offensive play this season was Jalin Hyatt’s 58-yard catch at Arizona. The team's longest plays this season are safety Jason Pinnock's 102-yard interception return at Miami and Adoree Jackson's 76-yard pick-6 on Monday.
NEXT STEPS
The Giants will finish the season with home games against the playoff-contending Los Angeles Rams (8-7) and the NFC East-leading Eagles (11-4).
