The New York Giants haven’t made the playoffs in four straight seasons, but head coach Ben McAdoo and Odell Beckham Jr. are already talking about winning the Super Bowl.
For a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in four straight seasons, there seems to be a lot of positivity among the New York Giants coaching staff and players as training camp begins. Both Odell Beckham Jr. and Ben McAdoo have made references to heading to the Super Bowl this week which creates rather lofty expectations.
In his interview with GQ, Beckham did more than just slight his rival Josh Norman. OBJ cited his own intuition as a reason the Giants will make a run at a championship. “I get these weird divine feelings. They’re, like, so strong I can’t shake them. When I think about Super Bowl 51” — as in, the next one — “I think about the guys that we have. It almost makes me sick to my stomach because I know that it’s going to happen. I’m saying it now, and it’s weird. And then it comes the time, and it’s like, ‘Wow. This is really happening.’ ”
OBJ reportedly reiterated his “divine feelings” this week to some high schoolers on Tuesday. “Go Giants this year! Super Bowl 51 in Houston. We will be there.’’
That kind of bravado is typical of wide receivers and typical OBJ. He’s confident in his own ability to raise the offense’s production. And rightly so. But for a head coach, especially one in his first year as top dog, to raise the stakes is somewhat atypical. That’s what Ben McAdoo did on Thursday confidently stating his goals for the Giants this season.
“Our goal is still to put the fifth trophy in the case… We need to go out there and put the work in and earn it… It puts crystal clear high expectations on the team. That’s what we want, and that’s what we’re here for.”
Surely, that’s a bit of coach speak – and what would Giants fans want their head coach to say? But for a first-time head coach on a team with the worst defense in football in 2015, McAdoo have a lot of work to do before those goals can become a reality.
According to Bovada, the Giants have 25-1 odds to become the 2017 Super Bowl Champions, which is an improvement on their pre-draft 33-1 odds. The New England Patriots at 7-1 and Seattle Seahawks at 8-10 are the favorites to meet in the Super Bowl in February.