How do you cover this hopeless Giants team? A press box view of their ninth straight loss

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — One of the hardest parts of covering a team that always loses is finding creative ways to recap the same result each week. Sure, there are often unique paths to defeat, but they all lead to the same destination for a woeful team.

So with the New York Giants in the midst of another abysmal season, I decided to reach into my archives to try and put a creative spin on yet another loss. There isn’t any need to analyze the details of Sunday’s 35-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, which dropped the Giants to 2-12 overall, 0-8 at home and matched a franchise record with nine straight losses.

Five years ago, I provided a first-person account of what it’s like to cover a hopeless team. Sadly, not much has changed for the Giants over the past five years other than the cast of characters responsible for the dreadful product on the field.

So, here’s my diary of the Giants’ latest loss:

6.59 a.m.: A perk of having two young kids: There’s no need to set an alarm. I hear my kids’ bedroom door open, and know it’s my 6-year-old daughter and not my 3-year old son because there isn’t an immediate demand for my attention.

I scroll Twitter for injury updates from national insiders since they have some odd embargo where they can’t share intel before (roughly) 3:39 a.m. on Sundays. There’s no one of national interest on the Giants’ lengthy injury report for this game. My goal when there is uncertainty about the status of a Giants player is to report an update at a reasonable hour on Saturday. But that’s not always possible because teams closely guard the game statuses until giving national insiders the green light for the reports in the middle of the night.

7:07 a.m.: My typical game-day routine is disrupted because my wife is away on a work trip. Typically, I walk our dog, eat breakfast, shower and aim to be out the door by 8:30 a.m. Ideally, I’m in the stadium four hours before kickoff, although there’s less urgency with the state of this season and the anticipated lack of traffic.

GO DEEPER

Giants building lead in race for No. 1 NFL Draft pick

8:12 a.m.: Forget deadline, asking questions of a coach on the hot seat or anything else I’ll do at the stadium today — there is nothing more stressful than doing a ponytail that satisfies the exacting standards of my daughter. I breathe a sigh of relief when there are no tears from either of us as my effort is deemed acceptable.

9:00 a.m.: My wife’s aunt arrives right on time to babysit. I walk the dog, and I’m out the door for the MetLife Stadium by 9:33.

9:57 a.m.: I arrive at the stadium, rolling through the parking attendant booths without interruption. A brisk walk from the parking lot through security is my only experience with the cold, as I’ll spend the rest of the day in the warm press box.

10:26 a.m.: I put a lot of time and consideration into my pregame thoughts tweet each week. I try to distill a week’s worth of prep into the handful of storylines and matchups that will decide the game. I’ve scrapped that approach in recent weeks because the product on the field has been so poor and the results have become meaningless except for the impact on the draft order.

This entry gives me an opportunity to answer the common question about what it’s like to cover a losing team, which was the genesis of this diary idea five years ago. So let me make sure this is clear, especially for those who accuse me of enjoying these miserable seasons: It sucks covering a losing team.

The Giants have been completely irrelevant during most of my nine seasons on the beat, with the main exception when their dysfunction becomes so glaring that it puts them in the national spotlight. I wrote a 3,000-word preview of the Giants-Vikings playoff game two years ago that broke down every aspect of that matchup. I would much prefer writing that type of story than breaking down if they should fire their fifth head coach in the past decade.

Still, I’m not going to cover the team any less diligently when they’re bad. So, just as I enthusiastically covered their 2022 success, I’m going to critically assess their failures this season.

10:49 a.m.: Backup quarterback Tim Boyle is the first player out for warmups. Boyle throws passes to equipment staffers Harrison Eisen and Greg Oxnard as the Giants don’t have an early warmup with the quarterbacks and wide receivers. That’s a staple of every pregame warmups that has been ditched the past few weeks.

I’m usually locked into warmups because they reveal clues about who will be inactive and who will start at unsettled positions. Tracking details is one of my strengths as a reporter, but it becomes a challenge to stay committed to monitoring the minutiae when the games become so insignificant.

Last week, I was distracted by the plane that flew over the stadium imploring co-owner John Mara to “fix this dumpster fire,” so I didn’t watch kicker Graham Gano’s warmups closely. As a result, I didn’t have Gano’s pregame range recorded when the Giants went for it on fourth-and-8 at the Saints’ 36-yard line rather than attempting a field goal on their opening drive.

You have to watch the warmups closely every week to recognize abnormalities. That’s why Gano’s pregame routine before the Giants’ 21-18 loss to the Commanders was so alarming because his groin injury drastically altered his typical process.

11:08 a.m.: As more players take the field to warm-up, colleague Jeff Zrebiec stops by to catch up. I try to relate as Jeff relays the restlessness around the Ravens as they close is on their sixth playoff appearance in the past seven seasons.

11:24 a.m.: Keeping an eye on the sky has become part of the pregame routine. So it’s not a surprise when a small jet flies over the stadium towing a banner than reads, “MR. MARA ENOUGH — WE WON’T STOP UNTIL YOU FIRE EVERYONE.”

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Plane with banner circles MetLife Stadium, demands Mara fires ‘everyone’

This is the type of embarrassment that cuts to Mara’s core, especially since it calls back to the darkest days in franchise history in the late 1970s. Mara and the targets of the message — coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen — aren’t on the field as the plane circles the stadium. One can only imagine what the message will read for the home finale in two weeks after today’s blowout.

11:44 a.m.: Schoen emerges on the sideline around the time the plane stops circling the stadium. I scan the secondary market to find that tickets are more expensive than last week, when they were available for $1 in the hours leading up to kickoff. This is what I’m spending my time monitoring before games. Again, covering a losing team isn’t enjoyable.

11:51 a.m.: The most important call of my day: When to get in the press box omelet line. You can’t go right when it opens because the line is 20 people deep. But if you wait too long, you could miss it. I nail my timing, getting my bacon and cheese omelet without a wait. I get back to my seat to watch Gano finish warmups. He appears to miss from 54 and 55 yards before connecting on a 53-yarder to wrap up.

12:14 p.m.: Mara and Daboll appear on the sideline with the plane out of sight. Mara and Schoen chat as Daboll walks onto the field. I’ve always thought this is an advantage a GM has over a coach when jobs are on the line. The coach has so many time-consuming tasks associated with players, while the GM has more time to interact with the owner. Even if it’s not done overtly, the GM has more opportunity to make a case to spare his job.

12:55 p.m.: The Giants don’t even bother with individual pregame introductions anymore. The entire team runs out of the tunnel to a smattering of applause from friends and family in attendance, while purple Ravens jerseys break up the swaths of empty grey seats.

1:03 p.m.: Baltimore’s Justice Hill breaks a 59-yard return to the Giants’ 37-yard line on the opening kickoff. The Giants’ special teams has flown under the radar, but it’s been as bad as the team’s other phases this season.

A seemingly inevitable Ravens touchdown is thwarted when cornerback Adoree’ Jackson strips quarterback Lamar Jackson and recovers the fumble. Adoree’ Jackson has been playing recently like someone who knows his lack of effort late last season led to him being unsigned until a week before the opener.

1:25 p.m.: Ravens tight end Mark Andrews beats slot cornerback Isaiah Simmons for an easy touchdown after a Brian Burns sack had the Ravens facing third-and-goal from the 13-yard line. The touchdown was set up a 23-yard punt return to the Giants’ 32-yard line.

1:38 p.m.: Daboll is livid after a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1 from the Ravens’ 30-yard line is stuffed as the Giants got no push after hurrying to the line. The Ravens immediately answer with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who turned safety Jason Pinnock around on a corner route. Watching Pinnock struggle reinforces how many holes the Giants need to fill. The Giants need to upgrade the safety spot next to rookie Tyler Nubin, who is out for the season with an ankle injury.

2:01 p.m.: Devin Singletary caps an epic 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown plunge. The drive drained 8:38 off the clock, which is valuable because it’s obvious the undermanned Giants’ defense has no hope of slowing Jackson.

That feeling is confirmed as Jackson throws his third touchdown pass of the half, hitting Bateman for a 20-yard score between safety Dane Belton and cornerback Art Green. The Giants’ secondary has no chance in this matchup with four starters — Nubin, Deonte Banks, Cor’Dale Flott and Dru Phillips — sidelined by injuries.

2:21 p.m.: As if things can’t get worse, Boyle takes the field for the Giants’ final drive of the first half because DeVito is being evaluated for a concussion. Boos rain down from the restless home crowd as Boyle takes a knee, and the Giants head to the locker room trailing 21-7.

2:24 p.m.: I make my halftime dash to the food line. Mara is exiting as I’m entering. It appears that he skipped all of the fried food and only got a coffee. It never ceases to amaze me that the owner of a $7.3 billion organization gets in line with media shlubs for the halftime spread at home games.

The press box chicken fingers have been upgraded to edible this season, which is a major improvement. Mozzarella sticks are a surprise addition to the halftime menu today, which is unnecessary but welcomed.

The only downside of the feast — aside from its impact on my waist line — is I miss the halftime game between the Rutherford Jr. Bulldogs and various mascots from the tri-state area. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch the highlights of Mr. Met trucking a 12-year-old.

2:33 p.m.: There’s no sign of DeVito as players return to the field for the second half. Emergency quarterback Drew Lock, who had been listed as doubtful due to heel and elbow injuries, starts throwing because he’s now one snap away from entering the game.

The frailty of Giants quarterbacks in the post-Eli Manning era should strengthen the two-time Super Bowl MVP’s Hall of Fame résumé. After being spoiled by Manning never missing a start due to injury in 16 seasons, the Giants have been subjected to an unconscionable run of injuries at the position. Injuries were a major obstacle for Manning’s replacement, Daniel Jones. Things have only gotten worse with Jones’ backups.

Since Jones was released in Week 12, DeVito made one start before being sidelined by a forearm injury. Lock then made two starts before the heel and elbow injuries pushed DeVito back into the starting role. And now with DeVito out for the second half with a concussion, Boyle becomes the Giants’ third quarterback in a four-week span.

2:57 p.m.: Ravens rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker gets open behind Pinnock and cornerback Greg Stroman for 21-yard touchdown. As practice squad cornerbacks get torched, I try to resist referencing Schoen’s decision to cut corner Nick McCloud in Week 10 to save $1 million. I failed.

3:12 p.m.: I go for a snack after the third quarter, and the chocolate chip cookies are gone. Heartbreaking. I settle for a sugar cookie. As I document my game-day diet, I’m thankful the Giants only play once per week.

I’m back at my seat in time to see Boyle’s fourth-and-goal pass fall incomplete. The Giants had second-and-goal from the 2-yard line and threw three straight passes with a quarterback signed off the street four weeks ago. This seems like a fair place to note that the Giants are averaging an NFL-low 14.9 points per game with Daboll as the offensive play caller this season.

3:23 p.m.: A breezy nine-play, 97-yard Baltimore drive ends with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Hill, who is so open in the right flat that it’s hard to determine who busted the coverage. With the Giants trailing 35-7 with 10:46 remaining, the decision is made for colleague Charlotte Carroll to leave the press box and stake out Mara in the tunnel that leads to the Giants’ locker room. This has become another addition to the weekly coverage plan, as Mara hasn’t made any public comments about the state of the franchise since giving Schoen and Daboll a vote of confidence in Week 9. Mara managed to evade the reporters today instead of giving his typical, “No comment.”

3:35 p.m.: Boyle connects with rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers on a 23-yard touchdown pass. It’s Nabers’ first touchdown since Week 3 and the Giants’ first passing touchdown since Jones connected with rookie tight end Theo Johnson in Week 9.

This is the type of game that serves as a reminder of Nabers’ special talent. Beyond his 10 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, he generates three first downs by drawing penalties.

3:58 p.m.: The game comes to a merciful end. The good news with the Ravens holding such a big lead and Jackson only throwing four incompletions is the game moves fast.

4:07 p.m.: I check my fantasy football score while waiting for Daboll’s news conference. I’d never do that ordinarily immediately after a game, but it is the playoffs, and I know I won’t be writing a detailed recap of the demolition I just witnessed.

Daboll gives characteristically clipped responses, and it’s clear he wants no part of being at the podium answering for another loss. I’m not any more interested in this exercise today. There are only so many ways to ask the same questions.

Daboll clearly has landed on “control what we can control” as his mantra to any question about the state of the team. It’s obvious that Daboll is aware that predecessor Joe Judge’s demise was largely attributable to his epic rant after a 29-3 loss to the Bears in Week 17 of the 2021 season. Daboll is doing everything possible to control his emotions at the podium to avoid proving any ammo to ownership to make a change.

4:14 p.m.: Daboll’s news conference ends, so I head to the locker room. Nabers is holding court with a huge group of reporters. Burns, Simmons, linebacker Micah McFadden, wide receiver Darius Slayton and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson are also at the center of interview scrums.

Slayton is asked how this season compares to previous losing seasons. Unfortunately for the longest-tenured Giant, he has a catalog of past experiences to draw from. Slayton says this isn’t like his rookie season in 2019, when the Giants also lost nine straight games and coach Pat Shurmur was fired. He says it’s also unlike the 2021 season, when the Giants finished on a six-game losing streak leading to Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman’s ouster. This season apparently is unique dismal, and Slayton says he doesn’t feel like there will be any firings.

Simmons’ scrum is more hopeful, as he recounts the viral interaction between Nabers and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders that led to them playing catch on a New York City street Friday night. Simmons says the groups coincidentally met a Manhattan jewelry store. That encounter led to the game of catch that has Giants fans dreaming of a potential connection between the star receiver and arguably the top quarterback prospect in this draft class.

Burns is asked how to avoid feeling hopeless during a stretch like this. Burns says that’s “a bad word” and explains that he takes his job personally. Hopeless is a bad word for a team, but it’s unfortunately fitting for this group.

4:37 p.m.: The locker room closes, and I check scores from around the league and Tankathon on the walk back to the press box. All of the teams on the Giants’ heels for a top pick lost in the 1 p.m. window, but they move into the No. 1 slot because the 2-11 Raiders don’t play until Monday night.

4:47 p.m.: Back at my seat, I start writing with relief that I don’t have to break down the details of this loss.

7:28 p.m.: I’m usually one of the last reporters to leave the press box, so the security staff surely is relieved to see me packing up about a half hour earlier than usual. The early departure will get me home in time for the toughest task of the day — even tougher than the ponytail: Putting my kids to bed.

(Top photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)



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