–When the Giants look back on their 2018 season, one theme is sure to be a constant reminder of why they have now missed the playoffs in five of their last six seasons.
Their failure to close out games.
Seven of New York’s 10 losses have been by seven or fewer points. One of those losses was a two-point defeat to the Panthers on Oct. 7 when Graham Gano connected on a 63-yard field goal — the longest ever against the Giants — with one second remaining to top the Giants 33-31.
The Giants have now been outscored 154-100 in the fourth quarter, their most lopsided scoring of all the quarters and a very telling stat behind their current 5-10 record.
But while it’s been the offense’s failure to score enough points to win games, a more glaring issue has been the defense’s inability to preserve the lead.
“I think that’s a fair assessment for our team,” said head coach Pat Shurmur. “You’ve got to go out and take these wins, nobody gives you anything. So when you get to the position like we were at the end of this game, it’s safe to say we’ve been in a handful of these this season where we’ve won a couple, and then we’ve let a couple get away from us. But nothing’s given to you in this league, you’ve got to go take it, and so when you’re close at the end, you’ve got to find a way to make enough plays at the end and take the victory.”
Despite the struggles, the Giants players believe they’re getting closer to putting it all together and becoming a team capable of playing a solid 60 minutes of football every week, even though time is running out on their 2018 season.
“There’s definitely positives and it’s tough circumstances,” said quarterback Eli Manning after they lost to the Colts.
“No one wants to be in a position where you’re not in the playoffs. You kind of get questioned how you’re going to play, but there’s a lot of heart. We came out with the defense getting stops, offense moving the ball, and scoring two touchdowns on the first two drives. So just a lot of character in this group of guys and guys competing – missing a lot of guys, missing some key guys, but guys stepped up and made some plays.”
“I think we are, and I think that’s sort of where our conversation is going today is, we are very close,” Shurmur agreed. “But right is right – you’ve got to win. And I think as we start building and as the players get better, as we improve, as we understand situations and how to play each situation better, then eventually this thing pushes over the top. So I would agree with their assessment.”
–Although the Giants are out of the playoff hunt and their weekend game against Dallas is one in which the Cowboys have nothing to gain, don’t expect the Giants to make a change under center.
Head coach Pat Shurmur announced Monday that quarterback Eli Manning will start the final game of this season, finishing up his 15th NFL season.
That’s probably not good news for the legion of fans and media who have become disenchanted with Manning’s inability to lead the Giants to wins, but Shurmur isn’t so much interested in what that faction of the public has to say as he is in what the film has had to say.
And the film has apparently confirmed to Shurmur that Manning’s performance isn’t as bad as some have portrayed it.
“Eli has been doing some really good things,” Shurmur said, reiterating that he thinks Manning gives the Giants the best chance to win.
“I think we as a team, and I think it’s fair to say about the quarterback too, we’re real close, and we’ve got to find a way to take these wins at the end. I think he’s contributed in a really good way, so that’s what I would say about Eli.”
With that said, Shurmur has also been consistent in declaring Manning as the team’s starter beyond this year, noting that those discussions will take place during the offseason.
“Those are offseason discussions,” Shurmur said during a radio interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa earlier this month. “I’m really pleased with the way he’s been playing of late.
“I’m fond of everything that Eli brings to the table. I’m fond of who he is as a person. I get a chance to see him behind the scenes, and I see how hard he works. And I know how hard he wants to win. But no matter what the talent level of the quarterback is, the team around him has to play well too.”
But they also need Manning to do his part. Although the quarterback is on track to finish this season with a career low in interceptions (10) and career highs in completion percentage (currently at 66.5) and passer rating (currently 92.7), Manning also is due to count for $23.2 million against next year’s salary cap, a number that includes a $5 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2019 league year (five days after the start of free agency).
The Giants can save $17 million if they release Manning before that roster bonus is due. But with so few better alternatives out there, the more likely scenario is that the Giants will extend Manning one year in order to lower his 2019 cap hit while also ensuring that they have an experienced quarterback on the roster in 2020 just in case they don’t find their franchise signal-caller in the next two free agency classes or in the draft.
So how does Manning feel about all this?
“I don’t know,” he said when asked Wednesday if he expected to be the team’s 2019 starter. “Haven’t got into that or thought much about that. I’m just worried about doing my job and finishing the season.”
Manning, who seemed uncomfortable with the questions about his future, continued to try deflecting them to no avail, even going so far as to point out that last year his future was also in flux.
“I didn’t know (if I would return) last year, either,” he said. “We’ll figure it out. Whenever you get to year 15 these things come up.”
–Wide receiver Sterling Shepard is the 2018 winner of the annual George Young Good Guy award as voted on by the Giants chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. Shepard, who edged out teammates Michael Thomas, Eli Manning and Saquon Barkley for the honor, has exemplified outstanding cooperation with the media regularly assigned to cover the team on a daily basis. The third-year receiver is usually at his locker every day and does not put any limitations on his time or the number of times he speaks per week, regardless of the team’s circumstances.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 – Number of receptions running back Saquon Barkley needs to break Reggie Bush’s NFL record for a rookie running back (88 in 2006).
