After three straight wins, the New York Football Giants are back in the playoff race, for now at least. Tommy DeVito, known in this part of the country as Tommy Cutlets, has been a sensation and was named NFC Player of the Week for his efforts in Week 14.
DeVito has the Giants at 5-8, just one game out of the final NFC Wild Card spot. Big Blue's odds of making the playoffs are still relatively slim thanks to a difficult final four-game stretch: at the Saints, at the Eagles on Christmas, home vs the Rams on New Year's Eve, and home vs the Eagles.
It is the season of hope, so keep believing because the Giants playoff season is very much alive. It is also very likely they end up with a Top 10 pick. Giants fans should root for one of two things to happen over the final stretch of the season.
1: Big Blue wins out and makes the playoffs. DeVito mania surpasses Linsanity for the most unexpected run in New York sports
2: New York loses all their remaining games and gets the highest draft pick possible.
Regardless of what happens, it's going to be an interesting Holiday season in the Big Apple. Here are my score predictions for each of New York's final four games:
Week 15: New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
The Saints are a very average team and the most inconsistent in football. In his first year in New Orleans, Derek Carr has dealt with various injuries and has thrown for just 13 touchdowns in 13 games while posting a 46.5 QBR, 23rd in the NFL.
That being said, New Orleans has both an above-average offense (averages 21.9 points a game, 15th in the NFL) and defense (gives up 20.1 points a game, 15th in the NFL). New Orleans has playmakers at all three levels of the defense and will present DeVito with the biggest challenge he has faced since Big Blue visited Dallas in early November.
The last time the Giants went to New Orleans, they won 27-21 in overtime, the signature win of the Joe Judge era. Unlike the last time these two teams played, the Giants will have a significant coaching advantage in this one, with Brian Daboll's offense squaring off against Dennis Allen's defense.
The Saints struggle running the football, and Wink Martindale's D will sell out to stop the pass. Big Blue goes to the Bayou and wins a close one.
Prediction: Giants 21, Saints 20
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Week 16: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
The Giants season will be alive and well when they head to Philadelphia on Christmas Day if they can beat New Orleans. It will be rowdy at the Linc on Christmas, as the Eagles are fighting for the No. 1 seed and the NFC East crown, and they have also been known to throw batteries at Santa in the past.
The problem in this matchup for Big Blue is that outside of the running back position, Philly is better at every position. The Eagles destroyed the Giants twice last season and beat them three times, so it will be a true litmus test to see if Big Blue closed the gap on their arch-rivals.
The Eagles have some weaknesses and have been playing like an older, fatigued team, and this might have been the perfect spot for New York if the game was not being played on National TV on Christmas Day.
Unfortunately for the Giants, their season will likely end in Philadelphia in 2023, just like it did in 2022. The Eagles will be desperate to get this win and have just too much star power New York doesn't yet have. If New York wants a chance in this game, Deonte Banks and Cor'Dale Flott will have to shut down AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, which is an incredibly tall task. If DeVito somehow pulls this win off on Christmas, Joe Schoen may give him a lifetime contract.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Giants 14
Week 17: Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants
The Rams are one of the NFL's hottest teams. They have won three of their last four games, and their only loss was to maybe the NFL's best team, the Baltimore Ravens, last Sunday in overtime. Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp are connecting on a 2021 level, and the Rams boost the league's 10th-best scoring offense and a strong defense that Aaron Donald still leads.
Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams provide one of the scariest weapon trios in the NFL. The biggest problem for the Giants defense this season has been balanced offenses (the Cowboys, Raiders, 49ers, and Dolphins all beat up Wink's defense).
The Giants can score some points on the Rams' defense, but to win this game, they may need to win a shootout. I am unsure if the DeVito-led offense can put up 25 or 30 points. Like Christmas Day,the Giants will likely lose on the final day of 2023.
Prediction: Rams 29, Giants 20
Week 18: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
On the final day of the regular season, the Eagles may not have a lot to play for, as they could have their playoff seeding and the NFC East crown all wrapped up. The Giants will also not have a lot to play for, but their quarterback will be playing for his future, and there is no better way to secure a future within the Giants organization or another organization than by delivering a strong final showing.
The young players for Big Blue will be inspired, and Banks will record his first pick-six, regardless of who is quarterbacking the Eagles. Saquon Barkley will look to show Joe Schoen that he deserves to be paid handsomely and will run the ball down the throats of a suspect Eagles run defense. Jalin Hyatt, John Michael Schmitz, and the rest of the Giants youngsters will shine and have fans of New York excited for 2024 and beyond.
Prediction: Giants 24, Eagles 19
Big Blue going 2-2 over the final four games would be the worst scenario, as they would miss the playoffs and may not even end up with a Top-10 pick. Unfortunately, it may just be the most likely scenario.