Biggest Giants Game in Years

[JTM]

Since the Rangers talk is quiet right now, maybe we can get a little Giants talk going.

The game at the Raiders is huge. Currently the Giants are in the # 1 spot, a win, which I fully expect, drops the Giants down to the 3rd or 4th pick going into week 18. A loss, which I don't see happening, leaves the Giants in the # 1 pick slot going into week 18. It really is a huge game, a game the Giants will almost assuredly win, but should do everything in their power to lose.

Big picture here's how it looks right now:

0-2 - the Giants are assured of the # 1 pick.
1-1 - the Giants will pick 3rd or 4th depending on SOS against the Jets (the Giants will have a weaker SOS than any other potential 3-win teams other than the Browns).
2-0 - the Giants will most likely pick 7th, assuming the Commanders don't win at Philly in week 18 (the Commanders SOS is weaker than the Giants, so they "win" the tiebreaker and would pick ahead of the Giants).

The Giants cannot pick worse than 7th even if they win out, but as you can see it is huge for the Giants to lose these games. There is a pretty big difference between picking 1st and picking 7th. At the very least, if the Giants beat the Raiders, which unfortunately I fully expect, they must lose to Dallas at home in week 18. At least in that scenario they'd pick worst case 4th, and could pick 3rd, not as big of a drop as winning both games and falling down to 7th.

Considering the Raiders are a college team, and I believe the Cowboys won't play anyone in week 18, the Giants will go 2-0 in their last two games and end up with the 7th pick. That is what I expect to happen, it's what the Giants do every season, get a meaningless win or two late that drops them in the draft. Watch it happen again....

 

[JTM]

Raiders sitting their star DE Crosby (against his wishes) and their star TE Bowers, along with a starting S. They very clearly understand the importance of losing this game. The Giants due to pride, or morals, or stupidity, or some other BS don't get it. I also read Dak may sit in week 18.

I'll tell you right now, I'm fully resigned to the fact they'll unfortunately beat the Raiders, due to the Raiders being terrible and sitting top players in an effort to lose the game, but the Giants must lose in week 18 to the Cowboys. At least if they only go 1-1, they'll still get the 3rd or 4th pick instead of the 7th pick if they win both games, that's a big difference. The Giants need to understand the long-term ramifications of the results the next two weeks.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Do the Giants pick Mendoza if they pick #1 or look to trade down and get a second #1 this year from the Jets?

 

[JTM]

Well, of course the Giants won, and the Raiders clearly didn't even try to win that game, which I say good for them. With that said, since the Browns beat the Steelers, the Giants are currently slated to pick 2nd overall due to their weak SOS. If they lose to the Cowboys they'll pick 2nd, and worst-case 3rd as the Jets aren't far behind in SOS, which is the tiebreaker for draft position. So, the win over the Raiders isn't crushing as long as they lose to Dallas.

I'll tell you right now, the Giants CANNOT win the Dallas game, if they do everyone should be fired. A loss and the Giants will most likely pick 2nd, and worst-case 3rd. A win, and the Giants will pick 7th. There is a HUGE difference between picking 2nd/3rd and 7th, especially when you don't need a QB and can get the best or second-best non-QB in the draft.

I don't think the Giants will pick a QB; they have Dart who they believe can be a franchise guy. In theory that puts them in a good spot not needing a QB and having a top pick, they could/should get the best or second-best non-QB in the draft, which could be the best player in the draft, like last year's draft when Hunter and Carter were the two highest rated players, but Ward went # 1 because he is a QB. There is no "generational" QB in this year's draft. Who knows though, maybe some team will love a QB, and the Giants can trade the 2nd/3rd pick for a haul and move down a bit. The options are wide open IF they lose to Dallas.

Very simple: beat Dallas the Giants pick 7th; lose to Dallas the Giants pick 2nd or 3rd (most likely 2nd).

They MUST lose to the Cowboys...period!!!

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Looking like Harbaugh to the Giants. That's a huge upgrade over their last several head coaches. If Nabers and Skattebo come back healthy and they draft well their arrow is point up.

 

[JTM]

Yes, helping to make up for the fact they won two 100% meaningless games that dropped them from the # 1 overall pick to the # 5 overall pick. For the first time in YEARS the Giants look like they have a very bright future.

Dart, Skattebo, Nabers, Carter, Lawrence, Tibs, Burns a lot to like. They need a few more players, upgrade on the OL and in the secondary for sure. They should be able to fill one spot with the 5th pick and then look to the 2nd round/free agency to fill other holes.

I'm also curious to see who Harbaugh adds as OC and DC, maybe Monken his OC with the Ravens will come along (sounds like he will - which is great I think).

Exciting day for Giants fans, best day since they won their last SB, first legit coach since Coughlin left, and a lot of talent on the team, a very good young QB it appears, and the 5th pick. The arrow is pointing up for sure; I think we could be entering a stretch where the Giants go from one of the worst teams, to one of the best teams, and potentially a SB contender, quickly!!!