This season might already be over.
The New York Giants entered Week 1 with hesitant optimism. With Russell Wilson under center and Malik Nabers entering his second year in the league, this offense looked like it could be a competent unit. On the other side of the ball, Abdul Carter helped form one of the scariest defensive fronts in football. It wasn't too difficult to imagine a surprise playoff push resembling the 2022 season.
But those hopes quickly came crashing down as the New York Giants' season opener against the Washington Commanders progressed. New York was outmatched on nearly every front, losing in forgettable fashion.
Giants' playoff hopes might already be gone after Week 1 loss
It's hard to find anything positive to take away from this game. From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, the Giants were outclassed by the Commanders. The 21-6 score doesn't accurately describe the mismatch that played out on the field.
Russell Wilson was far from the stable veteran presence fans hoped for. He finished his day completing under 50% of his passes and posting an abysmal quarterback rating of 59.3. Wilson had little success outside of throwing the ball up to Malik Nabers. He was under pressure all night, getting sacked twice and hit eight times.
Just like in 2024, Nabers was the only player the defense truly had to account for. He was getting double-teamed constantly, and Big Blue's offense didn't seem to have any other options.
But it was the defense that fans were most excited for. Carter, Brian Burns, and Dexter Lawrence were supposed to form a dominant unit capable of winning games singlehandedly. New York's defensive front was able to put some pressure on Jayden Daniels, sacking him three times. But they showed no ability to stop the run. The Commanders averaged 6.9 yards per carry and scored twice on the ground. Seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt looked like an All-Pro, finishing with 82 yards and a touchdown on just ten carries.
If the G-Men had been able to keep things close in this game, there would be some reason for optimism going into the rest of the season. But they were inferior at just about every spot on the field. It's still too early to make a definitive call on the year, but with a difficult schedule ahead of them, it's hard to imagine New York turning this season around.