The new era of the NY Giants seems to be led with grace when necessary, calmness under fire, and — most importantly — the unyielding desire to win at all costs.
While new GM Joe Schoen is flitting around the country most weeks to scout college QB prospects/envisioning the next chapter of his Giants book, head coach Brian Daboll has been the boots on the ground, blending new-school football philosophy with a feel for the game most fans are unfamiliar with.
After all, they’re emerging from an era of shellshocked punts and keep-it-safe kneeldowns. Going for two and the win on the road is just as unfamiliar as a little late-second field goal luck going their team’s way.
No matter the ending to Sunday’s game in Tennessee, it was easy to tell things were going to be different after the Saquon two-point conversion, when the running back and Sterling Shepard overwhelmed Daboll with emotional hugs on the sideline. Even if this particular contest didn’t end in victory, there was still something real to build on here, instead of the phony foundation upon which the previous administration sat.
But then, when Randy Bullock’s kick went wide, you really knew that the clock might have sped up quicker than anticipated. Daboll, relentlessly dedicated to both his guys and the NY Giants coming out on top, handled the emotional swings of the final seconds perfectly.
He celebrated with the coaching staff, reaching a five-out-of-ten, before composing himself completely to shake conciliatory hands with Mike Vrabel. Then, as soon as Vrabel was out of the picture, he let f***** LOOSE.
Think Brian Daboll was hyped to start 1-0?! 😤
— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2022
Wait for it, trust us. @Giants pic.twitter.com/v3V50JX03f
NY Giants head coach Brian Daboll has perfected the postgame celebration
You thought, for a second, that Daboll might wait to go wild until he could get back to the locker room, where he’d be free to rap along and vibe with the entire 53-man NY Giants roster in a perfect sway.
You would’ve thought wrong.
Daboll knew to keep the restraints on his emotions just long enough for a proper handshake, but at some point, you have to let the lion out of its cage.
The new voice of the NY Giants isn’t showy, or a try-hard. He’s just a dedicated worker with the utmost confidence in himself and his team, knowing that even the undermanned unit could execute the two-point try simply because it was the right thing to do, win or lose.
Saquon Barkley on Brian Daboll's decision to go for two:
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) September 12, 2022
"I saw him put up the 2 sign, and we kind of made eye contact, and he gave me that look, and I knew what the play was gonna be. He gave me that look and I kind of looked back at him and said, 'F yeah.'" pic.twitter.com/tDip04C3mz
From a subtle head nod to Saquon to an all-out fist-pump scream-a-thon in 10 minutes flat. That’s the beauty of this glorious game.
The NY Giants have three more winnable games on the immediate horizon against the Panthers, Bears and Dak-less Cowboys, meaning three more chances to test Daboll’s Year 1 theories, and potentially three more shots at a display of unrestrained joy in the aftermath. This team can’t afford to look past a single opponent, but come on. Why would Daboll do that? He didn’t even look past Vrabel before handling his business.
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With the NY Giants going 4-13 last season, it will be on Brian Daboll and an improved offensive line to help turn things around.