You’re a Giants fan, and you didn’t endure Monday Mourning for a change.
You also know better than to feel giddy about your Road Warriors because you know how crazy this league is. Euphoria one week, disaster the next — more disaster for you lately.
You can still feel good about not having that all-too-familiar pit in your stomach.
Maybe upsetting the Seahawks in their hostile venue won’t allow you to see light at the end of the tunnel. Understood. You’ve been teased over and over enough across the years only to sing what ought to be Aaron Rodgers’ favorite lyric: “Hello darkness, my old friend.”
But maybe, just maybe, your Giants gave you flickers of hope that all is not lost this season just yet.
And, of course, it isn’t.
Go ahead and dare to dream: If your Giants can beat a quality team without Malik Nabers (and Devin Singletary), why can’t they start believing the way Jayden Daniels’ Commanders and Sam Darnold’s Vikings are believing?
Do yourself a favor and let the sunshine in while the sun is out:
In no particular order:
If Daniel Jones has rediscovered his long-lost deep ball, if he has indeed learned to navigate the tightrope between aggressiveness and recklessness, plenty can change for the Giants. He has no hesitation using his legs again as a weapon.
Play-caller/head coach Brian Daboll and his quarterback have suddenly become one mind in two bodies. Daboll’s level of trust and admiration for Jones has soared. His work building Jones back should comfort Mara if — or when — the Giants reach the conclusion that Jones cannot deliver them a Super Bowl and are forced to fall in love in the 2025 NFL Draft with a Quarterback of the Future. Jones is fighting in his much-ballyhooed last stand to be the phoenix rising from the ashes.
Sunday was the antithesis to the past two home openers when Daboll didn’t have his team ready. The Giants were locked in and united. Forgotten man Isaiah Simmons was prepared for the game-ending field goal block. There is no more drama with Daboll and his coaching staff. “That was about as hostile an environment as you could be in,” Daboll said. The Giants handled it. “Our focus has been high,” Daboll said.
Nabers. As in @cantguardmalik. The hope is he will clear concussion protocol for a friendly duel with fellow LSU star Ja’Marr Chase when the Bengals roam MetLife Stadium on Sunday night.
Remember when former general manager Dave Gettleman vowed to fix the offensive line? No one is trumpeting this group as Five Blocks of Granite, but ask Jones about his starting five. If he looks comfortable in the pocket, it’s because he is. It is an experienced and confident unit that redeemed itself for getting grounded and pounded (24-26 rushing) by the Cowboys. And it is a prideful unit. New offensive line coach Carmine Bricillo has drawn rave reviews. Remember: Jones attempted 160 passes in 2023 and was sacked 30 times. He has attempted 178 passes this season and has been sacked 12 times.
“They make a mistake on something, usually by the next play or the next game, it’s corrected,” Daboll said.
This appears to easily be the best of GM Joe Schoen’s three drafts. Running back Tyrone Tracy, the fifth-rounder, exploded (18-129 rushing) against the Seahawks and has earned more touches. The kid’s got instincts, wiggle and explosiveness. Tight end Theo Johnson, the fourth-rounder, had a breakout game (5-48 receiving). Safety Tyler Nubin, the second-rounder, has impressive leadership traits and has a reputation as a ballhawk. Nickelback Dru Phillips, the third-rounder, is tough and fearless.
Sexy Dexy. Dexter Lawrence should change his X handle to @cantblockdex. He is a man among boys (six sacks) and looks driven to establish a legacy to be legendary. The more that he and Brian Burns (two sacks) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (two sacks) eat, the less defensive coordinator Shane Bowen can sweat the vulnerable secondary. Must be Campbell’s chunky soup that Sexy Dexy has been hawking in commercials.
Next Man Up is classic Coachspeak. Darius Slayton and Tracy took it to heart.
One game is hardly enough to convince Mara that there is significant progress. But no one can dispute that this was a tough-minded, determined, resilient outfit that refused to lose in Seattle and played as if it expected to win.
The Giants should have beaten the Commanders. They could be 3-2. But, they’re 2-3. You are what your record says you are. But if they start believing that they can become Sleeping Giants, can you?