An argument could be made that the New York Giants are the most disappointing team in the NFL through Week 4. After going 9-7-1 last season and winning a playoff game on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, Big Blue has taken a massive step back in 2023.
The team is currently 1-3, but are an excellent second-half against the Arizona Cardinals away from being 0-4. The offense has been abysmal, as they scored 31 points in those two quarters against the Cardinals and have mustered only 15 in their 14 other quarters of play.
There are a lot of issues that have contributed to their lack of success. The injury to running back Saquon Barkley, as he deals with a high ankle sprain, has been impossible to overcome. He is their best player and without him, teams know they can’t get beat by this offense.
The offensive line play has been abysmal as the injury to left tackle Andrew Thomas has derailed this unit. Their execution on the field leaves a lot to be desired as they given up pressure at an alarming rate.
Playing behind a shotty offensive line certainly doesn’t help Daniel Jones, but he has done nothing to help the team. Constant pressure will get to any quarterback, but the Giants’ starter is missing reads and not dissecting the looks defenses are giving him, leading to ineffective and downright ugly performances.
Despite there being 13 games left in the season, some people have seen enough to declare the 2023 season over for the Giants. One of those people is Stephen A. Smith, who ripped into the team during a segment of ESPN’s First Take this week.
“They are absolutely awful. It starts with their quarterback. … The end has arrived. This season is a wash for the New York Giants,” Smith said about Jones and the team.
While certainly harsh, it is hard to pick out anything Smith said as being inaccurate. The Giants rewarded Jones with a contract that pays him $40 million annually and he has responded with performances riddled with the same miscues he was making as a rookie. In Year 5, those mistakes cannot happen.
The issues run deep for the Giants, who are still trying to climb out of the hole that Dave Gettleman and Joe Judge left the team in. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are facing some real adversity this season as the smoke and mirrors used last season are no longer effective.
With matchups against the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills on deck, it is hard to imagine things getting better any time soon. Some major changes could be on the horizon as this season looks like one that will continue spiraling out of control.
