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The recent misery that is the New York Giants

By Russell S. Baxter

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 09: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants reacts in the third quarter of the game against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium on January 09, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 09: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants reacts in the third quarter of the game against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium on January 09, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /
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Big Blue is in the midst of one of the worst stretches in team history. Can the newest regime revive the New York Giants?

It’s a team that has a proud history. Only the Green Bay Packers (13) and Chicago Bears (9) own more NFL championships than the New York Giants.

Their eight titles include four Lombardi Trophies, the last coming in 2011 when the team knocked off the New England Patriots in LXVI at Indianapolis. It’s worth noting that the 21-17 victory over Bill Belichick’s squad was the team’s last postseason win.

While the Giants’ last playoff appearance came in 2016, it somehow seems like far longer considering the struggle of this franchise. This past season, the club won only four games. Big Blue finished last in the NFC East for the third time in five years. And the organization will enter 2022 with a new head coach…again.

Of course, the Giants also have a new general manager in Joe Schoen, who comes over from the Buffalo Bills. Hence, it was no surprise when Brian Daboll was the choice for New York’s newest sideline leader.

How the mighty New York Giants have fallen

Since the Tom Coughlin Era from 2004-15, the team has gone through Ben McAdoo, Steve Spagnuolo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge as head coaches. That first name led the team to an 11-5 mark and wild card berth in 2016. But he did not make it through the following season and Spagnuolo took over with four games to go. Meanwhile, both Shurmur and Judge were each two seasons and out.

The math is pretty disturbing. Since ’17, the franchise owns a combined 22-59 record. For the first time in their long and accomplished history, the Giants have posted five consecutive seasons with double-digit losses.

Schoen, Daboll and a coaching staff that includes offensive coordinator Mile Kafka and veteran defensive mind Don Martindale certainly have their work cut out for them. The offensive line needs to be rebuilt if quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley are to succeed. The defense showed potential back in 2020, especially in the secondary.

There’s obviously a lot of work to do when it comes to getting this team back on track. But the New York Giants (who have the 5th and 7th overall picks in April’s draft) can take solace in the fact that three teams (Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers) all reached the playoffs this past season after finishing last in their divisions one year earlier.

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