Effort isn’t enough as the Giants plunge deeper towards the bottom of the NFL

No one can objectively accuse the Giants of failing to play with the necessary intensity and desire to defeat the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday at MetLife Stadium. They simply just couldn’t match the Ravens’ collective skill and ability.

With numerous players out due to injuries, the Giants went into the game for all intents and purposes with one arm tied behind their back and were crushed 35-14 by the Ravens’ and their incomparable quarterback Lamar Jackson, who passed for 290 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions for the 9-5 Ravens.

Conversely, Tim Boyle stepped in for starting quarterback Tommy DeVito, who sustained a concussion late in the first half. But DeVito was the Giants’ third string QB coming into this season and was only playing because second string quarterback Drew Lock was sidelined with a left elbow injury. In the muddled and malfunctioning world of the Giants, Lock and DeVito rose up the depth chart after the Giants sat and then cut ties with established starter Daniel Jones on November 22 after he asked to be released. Jones was drafted by the organization with the No. 6 pick in the first round of the 2019 draft with hopes he would lead them to a Super Bowl.

You follow? Yes, the Giants are a mess.

Their loss to the Ravens extended their losing streak to nine games and 0-8 at home. Their 2-12 overall record is tied for the worst in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders going into Sunday’s game in Atlanta versus the 7-7 Falcons, which on Tuesday announced they were benching struggling veteran starter Kirk Cousins and will replace him with rookie first round pick Michael Penix Jr.

The humiliation for the Giants was symbolized by a small plane flying above MetLife for the second week in a row hours prior to kickoff with a banner displaying a directive for owner franchise co-owner John Mara: “Mr, Mara Enough — We won’t stop until you fire everyone.” 

When the team was 2-5 and fans were already dissatisfied, Mara said he did not foresee firing head coach Brian Daboll or general manager Joe Schoen during or after this season.

“I still have confidence in both of them,” he said to reporters. “I’ve probably been guilty of not being patient enough in recent years.” Since his declaration, the Giants are 0-7. Mara’s outlook logically must have changed. It’s the nature of a results-based industry.