New York Giants

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Lore & Background

The Giants started 2–13 for the second consecutive season and clinched a losing record for the 8th time in 9 seasons dating back to 2017, as well as extending their NFC East division title drought to 14 seasons, the longest active drought in the NFC. On November 10, following a Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears, the Giants fired Daboll. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka served as the team's interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The Giants were the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season in Week 12 where they blew a 27–17 lead against the Detroit Lions and lost in overtime, 34–27, coupled with the Seattle Seahawks’ win against the Tennessee Titans, becoming the first NFL team to do this in back-to-back seasons since the Houston Texans accomplished this feat in 2021 and 2022. They missed the postseason for the third straight season in a row and the 14th time in the last 17 seasons dating back to 2009. This season was plagued by numerous injuries to key players, poor defense, and inability to close out games throughout the year that contributed to numerous blown leads and close losses (similar to 2015). Of the Giants' 13 losses, seven were determined by a single possession and in five of the remaining losses, they blew a double-digit lead. Had they won those games, they would have finished the season at 11–6.

In Their Own Story

Despite the rough season, one of the Giants’ highlights of the season included a 34-17 win in Week 6 on Thursday Night Football against their division rival and defending Super Bowl champion, the Philadelphia Eagles — their first win on Thursday Night Football since 2015. This would also be the final season for the New York Giants with All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, as he was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. The New York Giants drew an average home attendance of 80,557, one of the highest of all American football teams in the world.

Reader's Guide

The Giants failed to score a touchdown in Week 1 for the third consecutive season, becoming the first team to do so since the Detroit Lions from 1940-1942. Left tackle Andrew Thomas was ruled out prior to the game due to his foot injury that sidelined him for most of the previous season, and his absence was felt as Russell Wilson was under duress the entire afternoon. The Giants' run game was also stymied all day, only gaining 74 yards on the ground compared to the Commanders' 220. The Giants ran a total of 13 plays in goal-to-go range and were unable to punch it in at any point. This marked the first time since 1979 that the Giants failed to score a touchdown in an away game against the Commanders as well as the first time the Giants lost three or more games in a row to the Commanders since losing four straight against them from 1998-2000. In addition, this was the Giants' 7th consecutive divisional loss. Also with the loss, the Giants started 0-1 for the third straight year in a row and eighth time in nine seasons. In Week 2 at Dallas, despite a very strong offensive performance in the second half, numerous penalties and mishaps would ultimately cost the Giants the game. The Giants drew 21 total flags and were penalized 14 times for a franchise-record 160 yards. On their opening drive after a flag wiped off a 67-yard return for Gunner Olszewski, left tackle James Hudson III committed four penalties, the most for a player on a single drive since 2000. His fourth penalty was especially costly as Wan'Dale Robinson caught a pass for 51 yards and was downed at the 2-yard line, but then Hudson was called for a personal foul after the play which brought the ball 15 yards back to the 17. The Giants then had to settle for a field goal to end that drive. Hudson was subsequently benched and replaced with Marcus Mbow on the next drive. The Giants scored four touchdowns in the game but only once in the red zone in five attempts, when rookie running back Cam Skattebo scored his first NFL touchdown. This came right after rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart made his NFL debut early in the fourth quarter, handing the ball off to Skattebo who ran the ball 24 yards to the Cowboys' 1-yard line right before scoring on the next play. Down 34–30, Russell Wilson found Malik Nabers for a 48-yard go-ahead touchdown with 25 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Nabers' second touchdown of the game. However, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey would kick a game-tying 64-yard field goal as the clock expired, sending the game into overtime. After both teams exchanged possessions in overtime, Wilson threw an interception to Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson, and Aubrey would kick the game-winning 46-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock, handing the Giants their 9th consecutive loss to the Cowboys dating back to 2021, the longest active streak in the NFL among division opponents, as well as their 9th consecutive road loss to the Cowboys, going back to 2017. With the loss, they started 0-2 for the second straight year and the 11th time in the last 13 seasons dating back to 2013. Additionally, this marked the first time since 2005 that a Giants-Cowboys game went to overtime. In Week 3 vs. Kansas City, Andrew Thomas made his season debut (on a limited snap count), but the Giants' offense was lackluster, converting just once on 3rd down in ten attempts. Malik Nabers was held in check, only having two receptions for 13 yards. Cam Skattebo scored the only Giants touchdown on the night and recorded over 120 total scrimmage yards. However, punter Jamie Gillan attempted the extra point after the touchdown, and the kick was blocked (it was announced that kicker Graham Gano had suffered a groin injury during the pregame and he did not appear until the fourth quarter). With this loss, the Giants started 0–3 for the first time since 2021. The Giants also recorded their first ever home loss to the Chiefs, ending a seven-game home winning streak against them. In Week 4 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart made his first career start and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 15-yard run to cap off the Giants opening drive. He later recorded his first passing touchdown, a 3-yard shovel pass to tight end Theo Johnson, after cornerback Dru Phillips set the Giants up with a 56-yard interception that was returned to the 3-yard line of the Chargers. Dexter Lawrence recorded his first career interception earlier in the game and brought the ball down to the 4-yard line of the Chargers, which resulted in a field goal after the Giants offense stalled. With the upset win, the Giants improved to 1–3, recording their 750th victory in franchise history. It was the Giants' first win over the Chargers since the 1998 season and their first home win against the Chargers since the 1986 season. Despite the victory, Malik Nabers suffered a knee injury in the second quarter that was later confirmed to be a torn ACL, ending his season. In Week 5 at New Orleans, Jaxson Dart threw two touchdown passes to Theo Johnson to end each of the Giants' first two drives. However, the Giants were then plagued by miscues throughout the afternoon. They turned the ball over on five consecutive possessions for the first time since Week 11 of the 2014 season. Dart threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, with Darius Slayton and Cam Skattebo also fumbling to account for the five turnovers. Additionally, Dart missed a huge opportunity to connect with Slayton, likely for a touchdown, on a flea-flicker late in the second quarter. The pass was underthrown, resulting in an incompletion and forcing the Giants to punt right after. With their third straight loss to the Saints since 2023, the Giants dropped to 1–4 while suffering their eighth consecutive loss on the road, their longest streak since the 2012-2013 seasons. This game gave the Saints their first victory of the season. In Week 6 vs. Philadelphia, after the Eagles scored first with a field goal, the Giants would then be in control for most of the game. Jaxson Dart ran for a 20-yard touchdown to score the team's first points on their opening drive, becoming just the second quarterback in NFL history along with Patrick Mahomes to lead his team to an opening drive touchdown in each of his first three career starts. On the Giants' next drive, Dart found Wan'Dale Robinson for a 35-yard touchdown reception, giving the Giants a 13–3 lead after Jude McAtamney missed the extra point.

Did You Know?

• The Giants were the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season in Week 12, becoming the first NFL team to do this in back-to-back seasons since the Houston Texans in 2021 and 2022.
• In Week 2, the Giants drew 21 total flags and were penalized 14 times for a franchise-record 160 yards.
• Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart became just the second quarterback in NFL history along with Patrick Mahomes to lead his team to an opening drive touchdown in each of his first three career starts.
• The Giants' Week 4 win against the Chargers was their 750th lifetime win in the club's 101 seasons.
• Punter Jamie Gillan attempted an extra point in Week 3 after kicker Graham Gano suffered a groin injury; the kick was blocked.