How bad are the New York Giants?
“Well, they are 1-5,” you reply.
Former Giants coach Bill Parcells used to often say a team is what their record says they are. Yes, once a team has a win/loss record, you can’t change it.
Yet, isn’t it just as true that your won/loss record only simplistically records the results of the games played? What does it say about the quality of opponents played?
Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, Washington, Oklahoma, Penn State and North Carolina are all undefeated. By the way, the Air Force, James Madison and Liberty are all undefeated as well. Are we to suppose they are all thus very equal teams?
Back to the Giants. I was looking at some of their woeful offensive statistics when I suddenly noticed their schedule. They defeated the Cardinals in Arizona. They have lost home games to Dallas and Seattle and road games at San Francisco, Miami and Buffalo.
Did you notice each of the Giants’ losses are to 2022 playoff teams? Yes, the Commanders lost to Buffalo and Philadelphia, but they also lost by 20 points to the Bears, who finished 3-14 in 2022, and their only win (1-5) this season is over the Commanders.
So, be careful, Commanders fans. This game may not be as easy as you are thinking.
Kayvon Thibodeaux last meeting vs the Commanders was unforgettable.
▫️12 tackles
▫️3 tackles for loss
▫️1 sack
▫️1 forced fumble
▫️1 touchdown#nygiants @kayvont pic.twitter.com/IKZCQh6tNR— awthentik (@awthentik) October 20, 2023
All one needs to think about is last season. The Commanders entered the game at the Giants sporting a 7-5 record. The teams faced each other twice in three weeks. The first game concluded as a 20-20 tie, and the Commanders fell to the Giants at FedEx Field 20-12.
A couple of weeks later, the Commanders, at home with their last chance to earn a playoff spot, fell to the 6-9 Cleveland Browns. They appeared lifeless, unmotivated.
But that is another story for another day.
