There may be nothing extra embarrassing for the Giants than Saquon Barkley’s famous person explosion deep into his first NFL playoffs with the Philadelphia Eagles.
However there’s something worse:
The simultaneous ascension of Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to instant elite standing within the nation’s capital.
Two years in the past, in Jan. 2023, Giants GM Joe Schoen mentioned: “There’s a talent gap there that we need to close, and to me, it’s the NFC East.”
Now, Sunday’s upcoming all-NFC East Championship Recreation at Philly’s Lincoln Monetary Discipline isn’t only a commentary on a particular 2024 season for Nick Sirianni’s and Dan Quinn’s groups.
It’s also, from a Giants perspective, reinforcing a daunting actuality of their division:
Schoen created a monster in Philadelphia by letting Barkley’s contract negotiations change into contentious earlier than letting him stroll to New York’s largest rival in free company:
Barkley, whereas taking part in each down with a colossal chip on his shoulder, has 2,329 complete dashing yards this common season and postseason after his 205 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 28-22 Divisional Spherical win over the L.A. Rams.
He’s solely 148 yards shy of breaking Terrell Davis’ all-time report of two,476 from 1998.
Barkley will flip simply 28 years previous on Feb. 9. And Eagles GM Howie Roseman’s draft picks of defensive sort out Jalen Carter, heart Cam Jurgens and nook Quinyon Mitchell – plus his signing of linebacker Zack Baun – have restocked the Birds for each the current and future.
Then there’s Washington. Daniels, 24, is already one of many higher quarterbacks in the whole NFL as a rookie.
In December, when NFL workers have been going round locker rooms polling gamers in regards to the league’s prime 20 abilities for the annual Prime 100 record, Daniels was getting some votes.
As the most effective 20 gamers within the NFL.
When Giants rookie Malik Nabers, Daniels’ former LSU teammate, was requested if he can replicate that success and rapport with the Daniels within the NFL with a brand new franchise quarterback, he put his confidence in context:
“I mean, I’m sure I can, but that kinda dude that you just mentioned, though, he’s different. He just changed his franchise around,” Nabers mentioned of Daniels on the Giants’ Jan. 6 breakup day. “He’s a great quarterback. It helped me for sure. But I’m not sure how my steps are gonna look with another QB, consistency. I don’t know. I guess we’ll have to see.”
Daniels’ 299 passing yards and two landing passes within the Commanders’ 45-31 upset of the No. 1-seeded Lions in Detroit strengthened why he’s extra than simply an thrilling rookie.
Daniels, who has twin menace means, is maturing rapidly and has been taking part in as a passer first.
He did run 16 occasions for 51 yards and has the power to vary video games along with his legs. However his 42-yard and 38-yard downfield photographs to huge receiver Dyami Brown have been photographs heard ’around the league.
There will not be many quarterbacks who threaten each inch of the sector once they take the snap and drop again. However Daniels is certainly one of them.
His 271 mixed passing and dashing yards on Saturday have been essentially the most within the first half of a playoff recreation since Tom Brady had 282 within the Patriots’ Tremendous Bowl LII loss to the Eagles.
And most significantly, he now has received his first two profession NFL playoff video games with out turning the ball over even as soon as.
“I always believe,” Daniels mentioned.
Actually, Washington GM Adam Peters and Quinn can have work to do to proceed reinforcing and constructing the roster they inherited round Daniels. However in skilled soccer, discovering the star quarterback is essentially the most troublesome a part of the puzzle.
And so they’ve carried out that.
Additionally they look sensible for drafting Michigan nook Mike Sainistril at No. 50 total three slots after the Giants took Minnesota security Tyler Nubin at No. 47. Sainistril snagged two interceptions of Jared Goff in Saturday’s upset.
The Giants — who missed out on coveted corners Kool-Help McKinstry (No. 41 to the Saints) and Kamari Lassiter (No. 42 to Houston) as a result of Schoen’s commerce of the No. 39 decide for edge rusher Brian Burns — then made a need-based decide at security as a result of Xavier McKinney’s departure to Inexperienced Bay as a substitute. Then they took Kentucky nook Dru Phillips within the third.
The Giants went 0-6 within the NFC East this season, and Schoen and Brian Daboll are 4-14-1 in division since they took over: 0-6 in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, 1-6 in opposition to the Eagles and 3-2-1 in opposition to Washington, together with 0-2 in opposition to Daniels.
The Giants have been outscored 143-91 of their six division losses this season. That 0-6 report included a loss to the Eagles through which Philly rested virtually all of its starters.
And now one of many Giants’ division rivals is assured to characterize the NFC within the Tremendous Bowl throughout a yr when the Giants (3-14) tied for the worst report in the whole league.
The NFC East expertise hole that Schoen famous hasn’t closed. It has widened – considerably. The Giants’ ineptitude has helped create and compound the issue.
And that’s what makes co-owner John Mara’s determination to take no motion on his GM or coach that rather more ridiculous: he has accepted it because the Giants’ new actuality for now and the foreseeable future, and crossed his fingers that one thing will change.
