NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The New York Giants are heading back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 when they lost in the Wild Card Round. Following years of struggling to find the proper balance, first-year head coach Brian Daboll brought a winning attitude to the Giants and now they’re back in the playoffs vying for a shot at the Super Bowl. But the job is not done.
The Giants have one more regular season game left against the Philadelphia Eagles and Daboll has his biggest decision as leader of the Giants to make in the next coming days. Does he play his starters or not?
For some, this is a no-brainer. Yes, you play your guys and head into the playoffs with momentum. There is no need to stop the train now. Since Week 10, the Giants are 3-4-1. That’s not the mark of a team on a roll. So, we can understand why some are looking for Daboll to play his starters. However, there is a dark side to all of this.
What if someone gets hurt in a meaningless game? Injuries happen all the time but it’s been quite a while since the Giants have something to actually play for. Week 18 is not one of those times. The New York Giants are locked into the 6th seed. So, what are they playing for? Pride? Consistency? At this point in the season, if the players don’t know the playbook, then that’s a deeper issue.
The New York Giants Must Be Really Careful Here
This has been the first season since his rookie year that Saquon Barkley has been healthy. Is this the time when you gamble with your best player? Daniel Jones entered the season with question marks surrounding his future in NY and by leading the team to the playoffs, there have been whispers of offering him an extension. Is this the time when you play him in a meaningless game and he falters?
The Eagles are leading the NFL in sacks and could cause problems for a Giants team riding a wave of good emotions. If Jones struggles would that break his confidence heading into the playoffs? What if something happens and either Jones, Barkley, or another key member of the team goes down, then what?
The Eagles have plenty to play for as they’re looking to wrap up the NFC East and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They will be a full tilt and if they win, they’re awarded a week off. The New York Giants, no matter what happens will be on the field the following week. Daboll has a decision to make.
Following their win against the Indianapolis Colts, Brain Daboll stated that he will not rest any players against the Eagles. Maybe he was caught up in the emotion of it all which is understandable. But he must really think about what he’s doing. However, a day later, he went back on his statement stating:
We’ll talk about it and do what’s best for the team
Giants’ fans have waited years for this moment and if something does go wrong, the fingers will be pointed at him for risking so much in a game that means nothing. As a fan of the NFL, we want to see the best football possible in the playoffs. No one wants to watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Game without Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen because their coach decided to play them in a game the previous week when they could have sat them.
In Daboll’s defense, he could treat Week 18 like it’s a preseason game. Play his starters for maybe a quarter or two and hope for the best. Keep the blood flowing but be careful. The Eagles have something to play for and will be at full speed. This is not just a Week 18 game for them.
The New York Giants will want to avenge their Week 14 loss but is that really what’s important here? The goal is to win the SB and their best chance is by being healthy. Making a case that injuries happen is moot. You play the regular season to make the playoffs but if you can rest your players, especially the ones who are already banged up before the biggest game of the year, why not take that chance?
The NYC media is unlike any other. If Brian Daboll plays his guys and someone gets injured, he will not be able to live that down. There are talks of him being mentioned as Coach of the Year and this is one of those examples where he must live up to the nod. Winning is everything in this league but so is knowing when to be smart.
The bigger picture is not a win against the Eagles but the win the following week. Look at the Eagles now and how banged up their roster is. With no Jalen Hurts, the Eagles find themselves fighting for a title they could have locked up a week ago. Do you think Nick Sirianni would rest his guys so they could enter the playoffs healthy?
The New York Giants overachieved this year so why continue to gamble when there is no need to even enter the casino this week?
