The New York Giants (5-10) host the Los Angeles Rams (8-7) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on New Year’s Eve afternoon in Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season.
Here are five storylines we are following this week.
Giants playing out the string
The Giants were eliminated from the postseason picture last week, a final reminder of how disappointing this season has been.
However, they will not be playing meaningless football the final two weeks as this week’s opponent, the Rams, and next week’s opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, will be vying for playoff position and the Giants can play spoiler.
Tyrod Taylor will start at quarterback
The Giants are abandoning the Tommy DeVito experiment — for now. Head coach Brian Daboll announced that Tyrod Taylor would be taking over the starting job after he added some much-needed spark during last week’s loss to the Eagles.
“He’s, to start with, a really good person,” Daboll told reporters on Friday. “Obviously, he’s been through a lot in his career, his 13 years in the NFL. He’s the model of a true professional, how he takes care of himself, how he prepares, how he is with his teammates. That’s why he’s been in the league for so long.
“So, I think all the stuff that he does, whether it’s (being) in really early, lifting in the weight room, how he is in the meetings, how he is with guys in the huddle, it’s kind of been built over the years, but I really think that’s who he is as a person and how he was raised. Incredible human being.”
Giants face an offensive buzzsaw this week
The Rams come into town winners of five of their last six and have been piling up yards and points in the process.
They are led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Kyren Williams, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and record-setting rookie wideout Puka Nacua.
The 35-year-old Stafford has been on fire over the past five games, tossing 14 touchdowns to just one interception while averaging 277.6 passing yards per game and a passer rating above 100 in each game.
“I think that Stafford is playing at a Hall of Fame-type level and each team, we’ve talked about it here, each team gels and they have gelled offensively,” said Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale this week.
Schmitz gets first taste of Aaron Donald
Giants rookie center John Michael Schmitz will undergo yet another challenge this week, perhaps the biggest of his young career, in Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
“One of the best to ever do it,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said of Donald this week. “He’s always a problem when you play him. As much as you try to gameplan for him, he always finds ways to make plays. He’s one of the best defensive players, he’s unbelievable.”
“Aaron Donald is a Hall of Fame type player,” said Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. “He’s a really good, talented player. He plays in a good scheme that’s well-coached. It’s going to be a big challenge, not for just a rookie but for everyone on the front line.”
Looking ahead to the offseason
The Giants will be hard-pressed to win their last two games, which would leave them with a 5-12 record.
They are currently slated to select 5th overall in next year’s NFL draft but could end up higher in the order depending on how the teams in front of them do the next two weeks.
The Giants can’t get all the way up to No. 1, as Carolina already has 13 losses. Their pick is held by Chicago, by the way.
But the Giants could end up as high as third if things break their way. Washington and New England are both 4-11 and should one — or both — win out, the Giants will climb up the order.
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