New York Giants Week 17 Storylines: Giants Want a Strong Finish

As far as most fans are concerned, the New York Giants 2023 season is over now that they have been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.

But don't expect the Giants, who still have two more home games to play before they can put away their helmets and shoulder pads for the off-season, to mail it in, not so long as head coach Brian Daboll is running the show.

"We have a bunch of competitors that are going to do their jobs--come in, get ready to go against the Rams, and try to play and coach as good as we can," Daboll said when asked about keeping the players focused on the task in front of them.

Daboll has taken pride in building a locker room culture based on professionalism. But that said, players are undoubtedly tired and deflated, especially after the disappointing loss to the Eagles.

Their motivation? Some are playing for new contracts; others are for a job on next year's team. And perhaps the last thing any of them want is to get a reputation that makes its way around the league as someone who mails it in when the going gets tough.

That's likely going to be one of the messages Daboll shares with the players when they report back to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday morning to start working on their game plan for the Los Angeles Rams, who need a win to help their chances of earning a postseason berth and a team against whom the Giants have lost their last three in a row.

"I'd just say we try to do everything we can do each week," Daboll said of what kind of carrot he might dangle in front of the team to ensure their enthusiasm level is as high as it would have been if a postseason berth was at stake.

"Certainly, we haven't got the results that we want, but compete and do everything you can do to get ready to play a game in this league. Regardless of where I've been or what I've been, if you're a competitor, that's what you get excited to do."

Here are a couple more stories to watch for this week.

Who's the Quarterback?

Daboll wasn't ready to announce whether Tommy DeVito or Tyrod Taylor would get the start Sunday under center, a noted change from the last time he had to announce a starting quarterback.

There's a case to be made for each man to get the nod, but there also seems to be a growing sentiment that Taylor gives the team the best chance to win, given how he engineered two touchdown drives in his half of football last week against the Eagles.

But there is also the school of thought that if the Giants are planning to move on from Taylor, an unrestricted free agent after this season, they'd be better off giving DeVito as many snaps as possible.

The decision, on paper, looks easy enough, But Daboll also must consider the locker room in factoring in the direction he takes at one of the most important positions on the field.

The Injuries

Yes, we talk about this every week because it's an ongoing story with no end. This week, among those the Giants will no doubt be monitoring is defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, who, although able to play on Monday after only making it through one practice on a limited basis, was on a pitch count.

Then there is punter Jamie Gillan, who came into Monday's game with a left groin injury and, per Daboll, banged his knee while trying to make a tackle against Eagles punt returner Britain Covey on his first return of the game.

Will defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who missed last week's game due to a knee issue, be back? And what about running back Gary Brightwell, who had his 21-day window open last week as he looks to return from a hamstring issue that landed him on IR?

What other injuries are the Giants concerned about? The team is scheduled for a walkthrough on Wednesday, but it has to file a projected injury report that will provide some answers.

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