Giants, DeVito still have a lot at stake in game vs Eagles

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Sunday's 24-6 loss at New Orleans was all too familiar for the New York Giants. It was the same old story: a barrage of sacks allowed, an inept offense, the lack of an assist all led to a blowout defeat.

The loss ended any dreams of a miracle playoff berth. It also slowed Tommy DeVito's train and reinstated talk of possibly taking a quarterback in the draft. That took the air out of these last three games, including this week's Christmas Day matchup with the rival Philadelphia Eagles.

The Giants (5-9) now have a 0.1 percent chance of reaching the playoffs, according to ESPN Analytics. Most notably, at this point, they have a 58% chance of going in the top five in the 2024 NFL Draft. They're even still in the running for a top-two pick and will be heavy underdogs in each of their last three games against the Rams and Los Angeles Eagles, who they face twice.

The Giants will face the Eagles for little more than pride and draft positioning on Monday afternoon, while the entire nation will watch the game in prime time.

“We're all pros. Get ready to play. That's our job,” coach Brian Daboll said. “I can’t wait for the opportunity to play [Monday]”.

There's still a lot to play for DeVito over the final three weeks.

It's a rivalry that the Eagles have dominated for years. They have won 16 of the last 19 games. Philadelphia is an organization that the Giants have been seeking for much of the last decade, especially this offseason after Philadelphia's 38-7 playoff loss earlier this year.

“There’s a talent gap that we need to fill,” general manager Joe Schoen said of the entire NFC East, and specifically the Eagles, after last season.

So far, it doesn't look promising. But these teams meet twice in the last three weeks.

If DeVito can produce a strong performance and win in Philadelphia, it would significantly raise his stock. How could he not be viewed differently if he can do something few Giants quarterbacks have done in recent years? How not to open your eyes with a second great performance in three weeks in front of the whole nation.

DeVito wasn't great against the Saints, but he wasn't terrible either. This loss can hardly be blamed solely on him, when the entire offense is struggling. The line allowed quick pressure and seven sacks. His top three receivers dropped three passes in the first half alone.

The unlikely rookie starter still threw seven touchdowns to just one interception in the first five starts of his career. A win against the Eagles would be a massive addition to his growing list of accomplishments and would only reignite DeVito mania. That would be such a feat that it would likely give him the opportunity to potentially be the Giants' starter next season.

The alternative is that DeVito fails like most Giants quarterbacks have against the most talented Eagles over the past decade and that story fades with the 2023 calendar year.

DeVito said a win would be “huge.” This would be an incredible addition to his CV.

“I've never played against the Eagles before in the league, so my record right now is 0-0,” DeVito said. “So I’m looking forward to going out and trying to be 1-0.”

Daboll was quick to point out multiple times Wednesday that the Eagles “have a lot of talent” on their football team. The Eagles are 12-point favorites on Monday.

But pride remains on the line for the Giants, who lost three times to Philadelphia last season, including a 31-point thrashing in the playoffs.

That playoff loss last season still resonates.

“Yeah, I mean, definitely,” linebacker Micah McFadden said. “Anytime you get knocked out of the playoffs like that – obviously we don't think about the past too much, we focus more on what's ahead, but it definitely hurts a little bit to get knocked out by a team in your division .”

It won't be much better if this disappointing season ends with two more defeats against their bitter rivals and proves that the gap is even bigger than they thought.