Following another disappointing performance on Sunday, Oct. 13, the New York Giants dropped to a 2-4 record for the 2024-2025 season. 

Morale and expectations were low for the Giants before the start of the season. After a lackluster eleven-loss 2023-2024 season, there was a lot of uncertainty going into the offseason. During the offseason, former Giants star Saquon Barkley signed with the rival Philadelphia Eagles, which further dampened the spirits of fans, left a hole in the offense and heightened tensions within the team. The Giants had also changed their coaching staff, leading to instability and unpredictability about how well the new strategies and systems would be implemented. However, they stuck with head coach Brian Daboll, who has a good reputation for developing quarterbacks and over 20 years of experience, hoping to put the previous season’s struggles behind them. 

The main issue with the Giants lies in the hands of Quarterback Daniel Jones and the offense. Jones missed eleven games during the 2023 season due to a knee injury; nonetheless, the Giants were 1-5 in the games he played. This came after a very optimistic 2022 campaign for Jones, where he had 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions. This led to him signing a four-year, $160 million contract extension in 2023. 

Despite the optimism, Jones has shown time and time again that he is not the same player who signed that contract extension. In the twelve games he has played since the start of 2023, he has had a passer rating of 76.4, 14.1 points below the league average–having only eight touchdowns paired with ten interceptions. He continues to be unable to perform under pressure, with poor decision-making skills and costly turnovers. 

Jones is not the only problem that is plaguing the New York Giants. As of Oct. 17, there are ten key players on the injury report, including rookie Wide Receiver Malik Nabers and Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas. Before the injury, Nabers led the Giants in receiving yards with 386. Since Thomas’ injury, the Giants offensive line has struggled to protect Jones, leading to rushed plays and limited offensive opportunities. The cumulative effect of these injuries has put a strain on the Giants’ game plan and their offense and defense, making it difficult for them to find any momentum or consistency throughout the season thus far. 

The Giants’ struggles continue onto their defense. Despite ranking 12th overall points allowed, they have allowed an average of 20.2 points per game, which, paired with their rough offense, is not good enough. The defense’s overall pressure on opposing quarterbacks has been lacking, giving opposing offenses more scoring opportunities. Run defense has been a big concern as well. They have constantly lacked the ability to shed blocks and stop the run as a whole. Overall, an average defense will not make up for a bad offense.  

When posed the question: What is wrong with the New York Giants? The answer is just about everything.

Looking forward, though, the Giants have time to turn their season around. This would come with players returning from injury, addressing their offensive line, cleaning up their run defense, and hoping that Daniel Jones can return to his 2022 form. 

The New York Giants’ next game is against the Philadelphia Eagles at home on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 1 p.m.