The Giants.com crew reflects on the first season under general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll:
John Schmeelk: To quote Brian Daboll, the Giants "crash landed" in the playoffs. While the loss to the hated divisional rival Eagles certainly left a sour taste in the mouths of Giants fans, it shouldn't overwhelm the success of the season as a whole.
Heading into this season, an improvement to seven wins, or .500, would have been considered a successful first year for the Daboll and Joe Schoen regime. This was supposed to be at best the first year of a long-term rebuild. Instead, the Giants went 9-7-1, made the playoffs, and even won a playoff game.
More important than the record is the improvement and progress shown by some of the young, foundational players. Dexter Lawrence was the best nose tackle in football, and there's a very strong argument to make he was the best defensive tackle. He's only 25 years old and is under contract for another season.
Andrew Thomas' play continued its steady improvement in his third season, and he played like one of the best left tackles in football. He is 24 years old and plays one of the most important positions on the field. He's now a cornerstone of the future.
Daniel Jones took another leap this year protecting the football. He had the lowest interceptions per pass rate in the NFL (1.1%) this season and a career-best 67.2% completion rate. Jones also had his best year running the football with 708 yards.
Saquon Barkley had his healthiest and best year since his rookie season. Kayvon Thibodeaux improved as the season went along. Julian Love and Xavier McKinney continued to improve. Isaiah Hodgins established himself as a big part of this wide receiving corps moving forward. Rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger showed promise as a two-way tight end. Wan'Dale Robinson flashed. Evan Neal should continue to improve.
The improvement shown this year by so many young players should set a solid foundation for the future, but that doesn't mean there still isn't a lot of work to do in the draft and free agency to try to reach the level of the Eagles and the other top teams in the NFC. It should be a fun offseason to see how they do just that.
Dan Salomone: Even if they had all the cap room in the world, which they didn't last offseason, we've seen that the regime's philosophy isn't just to collect talent. The goal is to build a team. The focus on camaraderie and culture led to the franchise's best start in more than a decade. It also helped them weather the lull that is inevitable in almost every season and clinch their first playoff berth since 2016, leading to their first postseason victory since winning Super Bowl XLVI.
No one was ever going to be foolish enough to put a timetable on anything when Schoen and Daboll were hired a year ago, but at the end of the season, you needed to see progress. They certainly put a giant check mark in the column.
But now the work begins. Schoen was upfront in his season-ending press conference in saying they need to "close that gap" with the talent around the league, especially in the NFC East. Having a healthier cap will allow them to do things they weren't in Year 1.
"There were times in season where there were maybe some veteran players that we wanted to sign that would've helped us, but we just weren't able to do it," Schoen said. "That part stings throughout the season because we could've helped the roster, but just didn't have the flexibility. Yeah, to have financial flexibility, nine draft picks, to be able to devise a plan where you have a little bit more flexibility and resources, I'm definitely excited about that."
Re-live the season with the best photos from the Giants' 2022 playoff campaign.
Leonard Williams (99)
Daniel Jones (8)
The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
Richie James (80) Darius Slayton (86)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Darius Slayton (86)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
Adoree' Jackson Dane Belton
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Daniel Jones (8)
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (82) catches a 2 point conversion during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Xavier McKinney (29)
Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Saquon Barkley (26) Matt Breida (31) Nick Gates (65)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8)
The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29), Adoree' Jackson (22)
New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins (18) makes a touchdown catch during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Jihad Ward (55)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Sterling Shepard
New York Giants safety Landon Collins (21) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Landon Collins (21)
Jihad Ward (55)
Daniel Bellinger David Sills V
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Dexter Lawrence
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley Mark Glowinski Daniel Bellinger
Daniel Jones (8)
Julian Love (20)
Graham Gano (9), Casey Kreiter (58)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76)
Jihad Ward (55)
Julian Love (20)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Darnay Holmes (30), Adoree' Jackson (22), Tony Jefferson (36), Julian Love (20), Tomon Fox (49)
Daniel Jones (8)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Bellinger (82), Kenny Golladay (19)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Dane Belton (24)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22)
Darnay Holmes Julian Love Dane Belton
Ryder Anderson, Dane Belton (24), Leonard Williams (99), Tomon Fox (49), Dexter Lawrence (97), Jaylon Smith (54)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)
Jaylon Smith (54), Dane Belton (24), Adoree' Jackson (22), Julian Love (20), Leonard Williams (99), Fabian Moreau (37), Nick McCloud (44), Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley
Xavier McKinney (29)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Saquon Barkley
Jihad Ward (55)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Jaylon Smith (54)
Darius Slayton (86)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Jihad Ward (55)
Dexter Lawrence (97), D.J. Davidson (98)
Richie James (80)
Nick Williams (93)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jamie Gillan (6), Graham Gano (9)
Daniel Jones (8), Saquon Barkley (26)
Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76), Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Ben Bredeson (68), Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Julian Love (20)
Adoree' Jackson (22), Aaron Robinson (33), Nick Williams (93), Tae Crowder (48), Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), Dexter Lawrence (97), Justin Ellis (71)
Micah McFadden (41), Azeez Ojulari (51)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Tanner Hudson (88), Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Jones (8)
David Sills V (13), Daniel Bellinger (82), Tanner Hudson (88)
Saquon Barkley (26), Sterling Shepard (3)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Saquon Barkley (26), Matt Breida (31)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26), Sterling Shepard (3)
Jihad Ward (55)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
Saquon Barkley (26)
Nick Williams (93), Oshane Ximines (53), Julian Love (20)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Nick Williams (93), Oshane Ximines (53), Julian Love (20)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Julian Love (20), Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26), Jon Feliciano (76)
Richie James (80)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Nick McCloud (44), Julian Love (20)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Evan Neal (73)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Gary Brightwell (23), Matt Breida (31)
Darius Slayton (86)
Evan Neal (73)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Tae Crowder (48)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29), Darnay Holmes (30)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Darius Slayton (86)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Dane Belton (24), Jihad Ward (55)
Jihad Ward (55)
Justin Ellis (71)
Jaylon Smith (54), Adoree' Jackson (22), Julian Love (20)
Chris Myarick (85), Chris Myarick (85), Oshane Ximines (53), Cam Brown (47), Gary Brightwell (23)
Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24). Julian Love (20), Fabian Moreau (37)
Jihad Ward (55), Tae Crowder (48), Micah McFadden (41)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Azeez Ojulari (51)
Tyrod Taylor (2), Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8), Ben Bredeson (68)
Daniel Jones (8)
Xavier McKinney (29), Fabian Moreau (37)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jon Feliciano (76), Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Chris Myarick (85), David Sills V (13)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley (26), Jon Feliciano (76)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Carter Coughlin (52), Jason Pinnock (27), Cam Brown (47), Jamie Gillan (6)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Jones (8)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Jihad Ward (55)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
Julian Love (20)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Julian Love (20), Micah McFadden (41)
Jihad Ward (55), Henry Mondeaux (96)
Jihad Ward (55), D.J. Davidson (98)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Oshane Ximines (53)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Jihad Ward (55)
Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)
Adoree' Jackson (22)
Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20), Jihad Ward (55)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)
Rodney Hampton during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Harry Carson and Leonard Marshall during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Samantha Morris gets emotional with her dad Joe Morris during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Kyle Rote Jr during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Rodney Hampton during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Rodney Hampton gets a hand shake from his son during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Otis Anderson walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Ronnie Barnes receives his ring of honor jacket from Brad Daluiso during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Otis Anderson walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Rodney Hampton walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Leonard Marshall walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Julian Love (20)
Matt Breida (31)
Ronnie Bones walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Kyle Rote Jr. walks up to receive his fathers Ring of Honor Jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Julian Love (20)
New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Evan Neal (73)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Dane Belton (24), Xavier McKinney, Tae Crowder (48)
Nick Williams (93)
Daniel Jones (8)
ryder anderson
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Ben Bredeson (68)
Justin Ellis (71), Dexter Lawrence (97)
Leonard Williams (99)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Bob Papa speaks during the ring of honor ceremony during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
David Sills V (13), Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Leonard Williams (99), Xavier McKinney (29), Jaylon Smith (54)
Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Saquon Barkley (26), Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
