The New York Giants were eliminated from the postseason on Monday after they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles, 33-25, at Lincoln Financial Field.
The loss was the Giants’ second straight after a three-game winning streak and eliminated them from playoff contention. They are now 5-10 as they prepare for the red-hot Los Angeles Rams this Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Eagles (11-4), broke a three-game skid and moved ahead of Dallas in the race for the NFC East crown. They are currently the second seed in the NFC behind San Francisco.
Here are three things we learned from the Christmas Day loss.
DeVitomania subsiding
Last week, Giants head coach Brian Daboll was adamant that rookie sensation Tommy DeVito was his starter, claiming that he “earned it.”
Well, that goodwill did not last very long as the Giants’ offense sputtered once again on Monday afternoon with DeVito under center.
With the Giants down, 20-3, at the half, Daboll decided he needed to get the struggling DeVito out of there and replaced him with veteran Tyrod Taylor.
“Just tried to spark the team,” Daboll said. “I don’t really have anything else to add to that. I just did it to try to spark the team.”
And spark the team he did. The Giants pulled to within two points of the Eagles after three quarters and had a chance to send the game into overtime with a Hail Mary on the final play of the game.
The comeback does nothing for the Giants going forward, however. In DeVito’s case, it just displays that he still has a long way to go to become a consistently effective NFL quarterback.
He took his demotion in stride and handled it like a pro.
“It’s tough,” DeVito said after the game. “It’s just a constant reminder that it’s a business. They’re always going to try to find someone to replace you, wherever it is. At the same time, it is a business. It’s your job. I respect it. There’s no hard feelings one way or another. I was hoping (Taylor) was going to go out there and ball and we win the game. It’s nothing more than that. That’s all it is.”
Daboll told reporters after the game he is not sure who will start at quarterback on Sunday against the Rams.
“I’m just worried about tonight here,” Daboll said. “We’ll talk about that here this week.”
Barkley could be nearing his Giants' end
Running back Saquon Barkley had another fine game this week, rushing for 80 yards and a touchdown. He has 877 yards rushing on the season, ranking him ninth in the NFL.
But one can’t help but think that Barkley is playing his final games in a Giant uniform. He was retained via the franchise tag this past offseason, a move that caused friction between him and the Giants and, although both sides say publicly they want each other ‘for life,’ they may not be compatible financially going forward.
Still, Barkley conducts himself like a leader and a pro and does whatever it takes to help the team.
“We’re a team that’s never going to give up and that’s always going to fight,” Barkley said after the Giants’ comeback fell short. “You’ve got to find a way to win games. That’s the truth and that’s all of us. I believe in not pointing the finger and pointing at them and go back and watch film and see what I can do better myself and it starts with me.”
McKinney earning a second contract
The Giants chose not to extend the rookie contract of safety Xavier McKinney this past offseason, opting to see how he rebounded from missing half of the 2022 season due to an offseason injury that badly damaged his hand.
McKinney had responded by having a fine season. On Monday, he tied linebacker Bobby Okereke for the team lead in tackles in the game (10) and recorded half a sack.
McKinney is second on the team in tackles to Okereke this season and is fourth in the NFL among defensive backs.
The Giants may consider using the franchise tag on McKinney this winter should they not be able to retain him before are agency begins in March.
