The New York Giants fell to 7-5-1 on the season after an ugly 48-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. They are now just 1-4-1 in their last six games and are at risk of missing the playoffs.
The early season magic has worn off and the Giants must now find a way to fight through a difficult stretch in order to finish at .500 or better for the first time since 2016.
As we enter Week 15, here’s a look at where the Giants place in a multitude of power rankings.
Nate Davis, USA TODAY: 17 (-3)
A spiraling team plays three of its next four on the road against opponents projected to reach postseason … a good indication Big Blue won’t.
Bo Wulf, The Athletic: 20 (-6)
The Giants did not look like they belonged on the same field as the Eagles during Sunday’s 48-22 drubbing. But as banged up as they are, a win next Sunday night over the Commanders (which would be their first over a non-Texans team since Oct. 23) would put them in great position to still make the playoffs. A loss, and it’s hard to see a way back.
After surrendering 253 rushing yards to the Eagles, New York is down to 29th in defensive DVOA, 31st against the run. Tremaine Edmunds has been a star for the Bills’ defense, but with Matt Milano under contract and a cap-crunch coming, they might have to let him leave. Where better to go, in that case, than New York, where Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will know him well?
Austin Gayle, The Ringer: 19 (-3)
The Giants’ crash back down to earth has been swift but not unexpected. The receiving corps is injury-plagued and lacks top-end talent; other areas of the roster, particularly the linebacking group and the secondary, have also been hit hard by injuries. But these aren’t necessarily new problems for the Giants; it’s just caught up to them in the second half of the season. The Giants are no longer winning close games. They are 1-4-1 in the past six games, and their season is on the line this Sunday against Washington.
Barry Werner, List Wire: 17 (-2)
Look at it this way: no one at the start of the season would have been stunned to see the Eagles clobber the Giants. So, there is that. Then again, this version of Big Blue was supposed to be much better than that at this point.
Mark Lane, Touchdown Wire: 21 (-2)
The Giants were favorites to secure a wild-card spot to start November. Now, the Giants will be lucky if they don’t choke it away by the end of December. New York’s last win was against the Houston Texans in Week 10, and even that game signaled some of the weirdness that has permeated since in that Saquon Barkley wasn’t a big factor on offense. The Giants have to find their September identity quick.
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network: 18 (-3)
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network:
The New York Giants feel like the antithesis of the Lions. New York has lost or tied five of their last six. While we felt their strong early-season run was a fluke, they’ve fallen completely off the rails in recent weeks.
Their pass defense has been ravaged by injuries, and that hurt them greatly against an Eagles team that has multiple receivers that seem to separate at will. New York still faces three teams with winning records down the stretch and could find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoffs.
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: 12 (-2)
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News:
The Giants’ run defense keeps getting exposed and now they’re struggling against the pass, too. They just don’t have enough offensive pop of their own with Daniel Jones to keep playing that way and win.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports: 17 (-3)
Saquon Barkley’s first nine games: 198 carries for 931 yards (4.7 yards per carry), 29 catches for 197 receiving yards (6.8 yards per catch). Barkley’s past four games: 50 carries for 152 yards (2.9 yards per rush) and 13 catches for 64 receiving yards (4.9 yards per catch). Barkley’s drop hasn’t been all his fault, but it’s not the best news for him as he approaches free agency. And Barkley’s production falling is the biggest reason the Giants’ offense is struggling.
Josh Schrock, NBC Sports: 16 (+1)
The Giants were a fun first-half story, but Brian Daboll’s team is limping to the finish line. New York has won just one game since Week 8 and was embarrassed by the Eagles on Sunday. Do they have anything left for next week’s critical showdown with the Commanders?
