MUNICH — When an NFL team arrives in a foreign country to play a game in a faraway country, different and unexpected questions always arise. Last Friday, members of the media gathered from all over Europe. Everyone had different accents, interests, agendas, and different levels of expertise in mountain pass rushes and route crossings.
The Giants were still a little misty-eyed when they landed in the Bavarian capital. After a chilly late afternoon practice session, several players were bombarded with questions from this or that angle. One question was appealing in its simplicity and innocence. For international fans who don’t have allegiance to any team in the NFL, why should they choose to give their allegiance to the New York Giants?
Daniel Jones talked about the history of the franchise.
“I think this organization has a great tradition and a great history,” Jones said. “The Giants are 100 years old and have had a lot of success throughout their history. They did things the right way. The Mara family and the Tisch family did things the right way and how they operated. It’s a great tradition to be a part of.”
Rookie Malik Nabors, midway through his first season, tried to show the fans sitting on the fence something special.
“I say, ‘Get on board.’ We’re going to light it up this Sunday,” Nabers said.
When asking Dexter Lawrence to be the team’s salesman, a rather nervous media member got off to the wrong start, saying “Jets” when he intended to say “Giants.” Lawrence frowned and pretended to be disappointed, but the questioner quickly corrected himself.
“I accept your apology,” Lawrence said with a smile. “So tradition is in ruins here. We’re celebrating our 100th anniversary this year, and it’s blue-collar, hard-working people. Look at us play, we play hard, we play physical. It makes plays, and it’s a team you want to root for.”
Brian Burns, who hasn’t lived up to expectations in his nine career games with the Giants, didn’t make any sales pitches.
“Maybe after they see us play, we can convince them through our play and not what I tell them,” he said.
There it is. With a record of 2 wins and 7 losses heading into Sunday’s international game against the Panthers at the Allianz Arena, home of FC Bayern Munich, there is nothing the Giants can do about what has been a truly pathetic season. So far, the only persuasion the Giants have made through play has been an indictment of the Giants’ talent, roster composition, and coaching, serving as evidence of the Giants’ inability to dig and find ways to win.
It’s a bad situation, but even if the Giants find a way to move from last to last in the standings with a loss this weekend, there’s still nothing in sight. These teams have the same records, but they are not the same.
The Giants lost by 22, 3, 5, 10, 25, 8, 5 points. The Panthers have lost by 37, 23, 10, 26, 18, 33, and 14 points. The Giants’ minus-63 point differential is tied for sixth-worst in the NFL. In comparison, the Panthers are at a disadvantage, with a goal differential of -146, the worst in the league.
Losing to this particular team is more than just cause for concern. It causes action. The Saints lost 23-22 to the Panthers last week and immediately fired head coach Dennis Allen.
This shouldn’t be the final result of the Giants’ fourth-ever regular season trip to Europe. They are 3-0 in past international games, winning in London in 2007, 2016 and 2022, and reached the playoffs in each of those seasons.
The Giants’ first regular season game on German soil (the Giants won a preseason game in Berlin in 1994) is not the start of a playoff berth. They are too far away for that. It’s about regaining pride and avoiding severe embarrassment. John Mara declared a few weeks ago that there would be no changes to head coach Brian Daboll or general manager Joe Schon during the season, and said, “I don’t expect any changes in the offseason.”
He said that when the Giants were 2-5. If the Giants lose to the league’s weakest team on the world stage and fall to 2 wins and 8 losses, his patience will have to be tested to see what’s in store for the team.
There are no “must-win” games league-wide until playoff elimination is determined. But there are games that they “must not lose” and one of them is against the Giants.
