It’s been a rough time in 2023 for the NY Giants. For the franchise, players, coaches, fanbase and anyone else involved... it’s been very rough. For a team that went to the playoffs last season and some had hopes of being a sneaky Super Bowl contender, the Giants are looking like a team headed towards the top of the NFL Draft, as they have lost their last three games and are currently in the basement of the NFC East at 2-8.
Granted, the Giants were mistkes away from being 4-6 or 3-7, but because of those mistakes and terrible play, the Giants sit in the bottom of the division at 2-8. If the season ended today, the Giants would have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which is something that the fans are already focusing on given how the season has transpired thus far.
But for people who haven't quite given up hope yet and are hoping for the best, the Giants are walking into a game that might be winnable. The Giants face the team that they last beat almost a month ago for their second win of the season in the Washington Commanders. At MetLife Stadium, the Giants held off their NFC East foes 14-7. Four weeks later, the Giants head to Washington for the rematch.
Last year when they met in Washington, the Giants held them off in a game where the Giants all but secured their playoff berth and the number six seed in the NFC playoffs. While this year’s circumstances are clearly different, here are four reasons why the Giants have a chance to walk out of Washington with a win.
4. Chase Young and Montez Sweat are gone
When the Giants and Commanders played last month, Tyrod Taylor was the starter for the Giants and was sacked four times by the Commanders. Of those four sacks, Chase Young and Montez Sweat accounted for three.
Chase Young sacks Tyrod Taylor for the second time in the first half 💪 pic.twitter.com/q7g50j9kQ8
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) October 22, 2023
At the trade deadline, the Commanders decided to sell and sent Young to the San Francisco 49ers and Sweat to the Chicago Bears. Before their departures, Sweat and Young combined for 11.5 of the 26 sacks the Washington defense has.
That is almost half of the pass rush from Washington that is now no longer there and that will be coming after Tommy DeVito, who will be making the start on Sunday against Washington. While DeVito is still looking for his first victory as the Giants starting quarterback, at least he won’t have to deal with Sweat and Young chasing after him the entire game.