In a mostly lost decade for the Giants, there still are new lows that haven’t yet been reached.
If the Giants lose as a heavy underdog Sunday to the Lions, they will become the NFL’s first team eliminated from playoff contention if any of the following results also happen: a Seahawks win or tie as heavy favorites against the Titans, a Vikings win against the Packers or a Cowboys win against the Eagles.
The Giants (2-9) don’t have the worst record in the NFL — the Titans (1-9) hold that distinction — but the combination of an extra loss without a bye yet, the Eagles’ big lead in the NFC East and an NFC-worst 1-7 conference record would contribute to eliminating the Giants.
“Our attention is not set to that,” quarterback Jameis Winston. “Our intention is defeating the Detroit Lions and playing our very best, and that’s what we’re focused on.”
A Nov. 23 elimination from playoff contention would mark the earliest exit for the Giants since 1976, when an 0-8 start spelled a premature end in a 14-game season, according to NFL media executive Joe Ferreira.
“What we’re looking for is, we’re searching for our first road win,” Winston said, “and we’re searching for our first win in a very long time.”
A loss would mark the Giants’ fourth losing streak of six games or longer since 2019.
The Giants started 2-10 in 2017, 2019 and 2024 as well.
QB Jaxson Dart (concussion), CB Paulson Adebo (knee), TE Thomas Fidone (foot) and OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) were declared out. CB Deonte Banks (hip), RB Eric Gray (knee) and S Tyler Nubin (neck) are questionable.
Gray is nearing his season debut and would provide running back depth after the Giants went with just two (Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary) in each of the three games since Cam Skattebo was injured.
The Giants need to make room for Gray on the 53-man roster, but Fidone could be headed to injured reserve as he is wearing a walking boot and riding a scooter around the facility.
WR Darius Slayton (one game missed) and DL Chauncey Golston (five) are set to return from injuries.
LB Micah McFadden told reporters that he still is holding out hope of returning before the end of the season. He revealed that he suffered a Lisfranc tear in his foot in Week 1.
McFadden has not yet started running. He will be a free agent in the offseason.
The Giants could rotate two of their top three cornerback positions, with Korie Black and Banks on the outside and Dru Phillips and “Swiss army knife” Nic Jones in the slot.
“I think it’s a nice flow that we have,” Kafka said. “There’s an ability to kind of move guys in and out and create some rhythm for them. So as we get into each game, it’s going to be a little bit different. So we’ll see what kind of packages we need those guys in for. The coaches have been doing a good job mixing them in and mixing and matching it.”
The Giants partnered with Hackensack Meridian Health’s Tackle Kids Cancer for USPS Operation Santa project.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Daniel Bellinger, Nubin and Tracy sat with kids in the facility cafeteria and wrote letters to Santa.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
