Giants-Colts Week 17 preview: 5 storylines to look at

The New York Giants — mercifully — play their last dwelling sport of the season on Sunday in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts. Let’s get to among the storylines.

What’s going to the airplane say?

It’s a joke, However, then once more, it isn’t actually a joke. With the Giants at 2-13 and showing to go backward as a substitute of ahead as a franchise, disgruntled followers have employed planes to hold banners with messages for co-owner John Mara at every of the previous two video games.

In Week 14 in opposition to the New Orleans Saints the message was “Mr. Mara enough … plz. fix this dumpster fire.”

In Week 15 in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens the message was “Mr. Mara enough — We won’t stop until you fire everyone.”

Now that planes carrying pre-game messages for possession has grow to be a factor on this horrible season for the Giants, you recognize there might be one buzzing over MetLife Stadium Sunday morning.

What’s going to it say?

0-9 at dwelling?

The Giants, as we’ve got talked about many instances, can grow to be the primary staff in NFL historical past to complete a season 0-9 at dwelling ought to they lose to the Colts on Sunday. It’s a bit deceptive to say “NFL history” as a result of taking part in 9 video games at dwelling solely turned potential when the league expanded to a 17-game season in 2021.

Regardless, it’s a mark Giants gamers and coaches would moderately not set.

“You put everything you got into it,” stated head coach Brian Daboll.

The Giants have been outscored 214-85, of their eight dwelling losses, a median margin of 16.1 factors per sport. The planes, followers sporting baggage over their heads, empty seats and disgruntled patrons who do hassle to indicate up leaving early have grow to be commonplace at MetLife this season.

Can the Giants keep away from a winless season at dwelling?

Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures

Is successful even a good suggestion?

I at all times consider there’s worth in successful video games, irrespective of the circumstances. Nonetheless do. All the time will. For gamers and coaches, that is their livelihood. Successful is what they do it for. I can by no means inform a participant who’s placing his physique and profession on the road on each snap, who won’t have one other NFL season to sit up for, that not giving his finest, not making an attempt to win is a good suggestion.

But, there’s a actuality to face that irrespective of who the top coach or GM is the Giants want their very own Jayden Daniels or C.J. Stroud if they will have an actual probability to finish this dropping cycle they’ve been on for greater than a decade now.

As of in the present day, the Giants personal the No. 1 general decide in draft. There are solely two quarterbacks worthy of choice on the prime of the draft, three in the event you embody Jalen Milroe. At present, the Giants have their decide of the litter. A win on Sunday and all three may be out of attain, identical to Daniels and Drake Maye have been out of attain a 12 months in the past.

Ultimate dwelling sport for Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll?

We don’t know what possession will select to do relating to GM Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll. If the Giants find yourself 2-15 with 13 straight losses to shut the season will probably be tough to maintain Daboll. Not inconceivable, however tough.

If the Giants don’t maintain Daboll, do they maintain the GM he has been tied to since each got here from the Buffalo Payments in 2022?

There are nonetheless three paths — fireplace each, maintain each, fireplace Daboll/maintain Schoen. The place the wheel lands stays anyone’s guess at this level. What occurs on Sunday might nonetheless tilt the percentages.

Right here’s one opinion:

And a Christmas message from former Big Lawrence Tynes:

The Giants might be simply nice, I do know that sounds idiotic in the intervening time however if you end up going via hell, maintain going. The tide will flip, we might be excessive fiving and celebrating huge wins collectively once more within the close to future. None of us management who stays and who goes, get pleasure from your…

— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) December 23, 2024

Who’s at quarterback?

That has been a weekly query for the reason that Giants did what they needed to do for the advantage of their future at 2-8 and moved on from Daniel Jones.

The present starter of alternative, Drew Lock, got here out of Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons needing an MRI on his throwing shoulder. We don’t know if he’ll play.

Contemplating how poorly Lock has performed in his three begins does it actually matter whether it is Lock, Tommy DeVito or Tim Boyle at quarterback vs. the Colts? None of them must be beginning NFL video games.