Caught your breath yet?
The Giants, really and truly, have been out there just three times. Seems like it is much later in the season than that, does it not?
There was the rousing, almost perfect John Harbaugh head coach debut in Week 1, punctuated by a sensational showing by Jaxson Dart in a cathartic prime time victory over the rival Cowboys.
There was the devastating bursting of the balloon seven snaps into what devolved into a decisive Week 2 loss to the Rams out west, with Dart going down and out with a knee injury that prompted despair, depression and dread from the fanbase — and an immediate crisis for Harbaugh two games into his new assignment.
There was the tenuous escape-job (12-7) win over the Titans in Week 3, with safety Jevon Holland needing to make an end zone interception in the final seconds amid the rain and wind. That prevented what would have been a desultory collapse in a game in which backup-turned-starting quarterback Jameis Winston did nothing to convince anyone the offense is in good hands with him at the controls.
That the Giants came out of that game losing their best defensive player and unquestioned team leader, Brian Burns, to an ACL tear almost felt like a piling-on hardship that somewhat got lost in the weeds amid all the tumult. The next day, J.J. McCarthy, a young, talented quarterback deemed a bust with the Vikings, was acquired in a trade and the day after that, fan favorite and faded star Odell Beckham Jr. was released.
It has been a whirlwind of highs and lows, and injuries and roster gymnastics, and an overwhelming sense that the Giants are barely hanging on.
And there is also this:
“I think everybody knows that even though we’re 2-1, we leave a lot of stuff out there on the field that we can take back and one play will make something better,’’ wide receiver Malik Nabers said. “But like you said, we’re talking us being 2-1.’’
Oh yeah, that.
Is anyone talking about the Giants being 2-1?
They are tied with the Eagles for first place in the NFC East, and on Sunday will look to win their first three home games for the first time since 2009. That will happen if they beat the Cardinals (1-2) as the softer portion of the Giants’ schedule continues.
The Giants at the moment are a winning team with an unsettled vibe to them. They have not scored a touchdown on offense in eight consecutive quarters and have a paltry total of one sack on defense in three games.
It was fitting that Harbaugh this past Wednesday, noting the change in the weather after the nor’easter finally drifted away, mentioned what he called “a great song’’ from one of his favorite groups, the Beatles. “Here Comes the Sun,’’ Harbaugh said. “Who remembers that song?’’
Indeed, it feels like years since it’s been here, and longer than that for the smiles returning to the faces of those whose emotional well-being rises and falls by how their Giants fare each week. Dart’s injury sent a sickly injection through the bloodstream, but he had his knee surgery, is on the mend and will return in 2027. Any “Jaxson makes that throw’’ or “Dart runs for that first down’’ comments might as well be put on mute. It is Winston for now and, if he falters, McCarthy after that. The Giants are underdogs … at home … against the rebuilding Cardinals. Let that sink in, as far as outside perception.
“I think we’re more focused on not leaving those plays out there, scoring more points,’’ Nabers said. “And we feel like some teams can’t keep up with us, and we should be able to extend the lead and show that.
“Some losses and some wins look like that. This past win looked like that. Ended the game off with 12 points and not scoring. So, I think that we are more focusing on doing that, making everything look clean instead of just taking a lousy win, but we’ll take it.’’
