The New York Giants are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, but that’s not enough to satisfy them. Not even close.
Despite overcoming all odds and turning what was expected to be a three-win team into an NFC contender, the Giants don’t feel like their mission is accomplished. In fact, they believe it’s just getting started.
“We’ll enjoy it, we’ll celebrate it, but I think we all understand there’s a lot of work to do ahead of us. There’s a lot still out there for us, a lot we can work on and work to improve on,” quarterback Daniel Jones said.
“We’ve still got next week to get ready for and you want to make it to the playoffs, but … when you’re making the playoffs it’s not like you’ve won the Super Bowl. You give yourself a chance to compete for a Super Bowl, so it’s just another step ahead and we’ve just got to keep working,” running back Saquon Barkley added.
The idea of winning a championship in 2022-2023 may seem a bit pie in the sky for some, but “championship” was a word thrown around the Giants’ locker room on Sunday.
A couple #Giants have said that playoffs isn’t the end. ‘Only one team wins the tournament.’ Heard thr C word — championship — mentioned
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) January 1, 2023
“Do I feel like we’re a dangerous playoff team? I think it’s the playoffs, anything can happen. You have to take it one play at a time and one game at a time. You get one shot. You win, you go on. You lose, you go home,” Barkley said.
“It’s a blessing; just to come and play at the highest stage and then have an opportunity to go win it all, you couldn’t dream for anything better,” rookie linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux said. “I think in the playoffs, it’s every man for themselves. Any team can win it all. It’s up to us to keep staying consistent and keep doing the things that got us here and just keep moving forward.”
The Giants are getting healthy and hot at the right time. And while many outside the building continue to doubt them, there’s a whole lot of confidence in that locker room. They have faced adversity and come out the other side, and that’s changed the attitude and culture of the entire organization.
“This is a great opportunity. Glad to be back like I said before. Just a blessing just to be back in the locker room with these guys, having fun and playing ball. That’s the biggest thing,” safety Landon Collins said. “Making (sure) we have the opportunity and now we have the opportunity to continue to clinch the playoffs, we clinched the playoffs and now do our thing.”
We’ll find out in two weeks if the Giants can make some noise in the playoffs. But even if they don’t, it’s clear as day that this team is headed in the right direction and they’ll ben making plenty of noise soon.
