Another bad NFL team is coming to MetLife Stadium to beat the Giants (2-13) on Sunday.
And this defeat will make more history.
Sunday’s upcoming loss to the Indianapolis Colts (7-8) will drop the Giants to 0-9 at MetLife Stadium and hand them their first winless home season since 1974, when they went 0-7 at the Yale Bowl.
It also will extend their franchise-record losing streak to 11 games. And it might even set a record low for attendance.
“You want to give them a better product in terms of the results that we’re putting out there right now, but certainly appreciate them,” head coach Brian Daboll said of his message to the fans.
Quite an inspirational speech there.
Every day that John Mara and Steve Tisch retain this regime of GM Joe Schoen and Daboll is an insult to the standard they claim to have in East Rutherford, N.J.
Mara wrote a letter to a disgruntled fan this week saying “there are no excuses” for the Giants’ record. And the co-owner vowed: “All I can do is promise that we will do whatever we have to in the off season to put a team on the field in 2025 that you can once again be proud of.”
But those words only will matter if Mara and Tisch take the appropriate actions to back them up.
And right now, it’s hard to have confidence that they’ll do what it takes. Because all of the national leaks continue to imply that the Giants likely will fire Daboll and retain Schoen.
One report on NFL Network referred to how Schoen and Daboll “aren’t necessarily a package deal.”
For the 100th time, however — one for every year this franchise has been in existence — firing only the coach would not provide an honest reckoning or accounting of blame, since Schoen is involved in every facet of this disintegrated operation.
The fans have a firm hold on this reality. Largely they appear to understand — unlike Giants ownership — that no part of this current front office or coaching staff is worth salvaging.
A few planes reportedly were grounded from flying over MetLife Stadium on Sunday due to weather, but one’s message was going to be: “Mr. Mara — enough… Clean house or sell the team.” The other was going to be: “Are drones searching for Giants wins at home?”
And there is reportedly a Saquon Barkley-themed plane planned to fly over the Giants-Eagles Jan. 5 season finale at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field with the message: “TY NY for No. 26.”
For now, the players have two more games to play. Two more embarrassing Sundays to endure.
“We ain’t expecting anybody to come save us, so it’s on us,” edge rusher Brian Burns said. “Either you gonna fight or lay down.”
But after losing 34-7 to the Atlanta Falcons before Christmas, why would anyone give the Giants a chance on Sunday or in any other game?
Red-hot Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is prepared to go off on the Giants’ 31st-ranked run defense in both yards per carry allowed (5.2) and yards per game allowed (142.6).
The Giants will lose their 11th straight.
And Mara’s and Tisch’s arguments for keeping any part of this leadership group intact will eventually reach zero percent of their fan base.
After all, by Week 18, the majority of them will have brown bags over their heads.
FLACCO MAKING THE START
Former Raven and Jet Joe Flacco will start at quarterback for the Colts on Sunday because Anthony Richardson (back/foot) is injured and out. Richardson was benched for poor performance in late September for Flacco, but then Flacco, 39, was benched for Richardson in mid-November after throwing three interceptions in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. Flacco has 1,167 passing yards, nine TD passes and five interceptions this season.
MCFADDEN, SCHMITZ BOTH OUT
Two more Giants starters are out in Week 17 due to injuries: middle linebacker Micah McFadden (neck) and center John Michael Schmitz (ankle). Safety Raheem Layne (knee) and corner Greg Stroman (shoulder/shin) also won’t play.
Four players are questionable: wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe), interior lineman Austin Schlottmann (fibula), defensive tackle Armon Watts (shoulder) and corner/returner Dee Williams (toe).
