By Ryan “The Goose” Gosiker
The New York Giants have had quite the fall from grace. An organization that was a model for others from the 1980s to February 5th, 2012, when they won the Super Bowl. From that Super Bowl to present day, they have been an abysmal organization with 76 wins in 12 years for an average of around 6 wins a season which was aided by an 11-win season. The downfall truly started with the resignation of Tom Coughlin after the 2015 season. The awkwardness at the exciting press conference spoke volumes, especially for a guy who brought you 2 Super Bowl titles. The next season, Ben McAdoo won 11 games and went to the playoffs with them before losing to Green Bay after the infamous boat trip by the WRs on the team. In 2017, McAdoo benched Eli Manning, snapping his Ironman streak of consecutive games played, in favor of Geno Smith who had his jaw broken less than a year prior by his own teammate while on the NY Jets.
Since 2016, the Giants have won 37 games in 7 seasons, roughly 5 games a season. As recently as two seasons ago, they won 9 games and a playoff game in Minnesota. Expectations rose in 2023, and they fell short, winning 6 games without their starting QB amongst other injuries and concerns. However, the best part of it all is now that it was last season, and the 2024 Giants have a chance to create their own legacy. They could win 3 games, pick top 5 in next year’s draft or they could surprise and fight for a playoff spot late into November and December. They have a new RB, they drafted Malik Nabers who has unlimited potential, they signed a couple veteran OL to aid that bleeding aorta, and they acquired a top 10 pass rusher in Brian Burns amongst other moves. They transition from a complicated Wink Martindale-led defense to a much more vanilla Shane Bowen defense. Their secondary and 2nd LB remain huge questions. Despite the departure of RB Saquon Barkley, this team is talented and has the pieces to win some games and hang around. Their schedule, especially after Weeks 1 and 2, becomes extremely difficult, so it is imperative they find a way to win 1 of the first 2, if not both.
I don’t know what the 2024 NY Giants will be, however, you can expect a much more aggressive offense and a team that keeps themselves in games. At that point, in one-score games, you never know how the ball will bounce. It is unfair to expect a ticker tape parade for big blue, but we, as Giants fans, can expect them to compete each week and find their identity for the future. Check out my sports show: “Game Time with The Goose” every Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on WTBQ AM 1110 FM 93.5 and on WGHT Radio with co-host Zach Kruk, Sports Director of WTBQ and WGHT!
