EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Given the uncertainty regarding a new coaching staff and the subterranean expectations seemingly everyone outside their headquarters had for them, the Giants' 2022 season could be considered a resounding success. Their nine regular-season victories were five more than their 2021 total and they advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.
But the flip side is, they were 1-6 against NFC playoff teams – beating Minnesota in the wild card round – and 0-3 against the NFC East champion and No. 1 seeded Eagles, including a 38-7 season-ending loss Saturday night in Philadelphia.
The 15-3 Eagles and 15-4 San Francisco 49ers will meet Sunday in the NFC Championship Game. Giants general manager Joe Schoen conceded today the Giants have some catching up to do before they reach their level, particularly in the pursuit of the Eagles.
"I know Philly more intimately and I would say yes, there's a talent gap there that we need to close and to me it's the NFC East," Schoen said today. "I mean, we're 1-5-1 against the NFC East and if you win the division the rest takes care of itself. So, that's always going to be a goal of ours, to close that gap and be NFC East champs. That's the goal and that's what we're going to work toward."
That gap-narrowing process has already begun. The players yesterday underwent their postseason physicals and exit interviews before scattering. On Thursday, the Giants will have their first postseason staff meeting to begin preparing for the months ahead – all-star games, free agency, the NFL Draft. The offseason conditioning program begins on April 17.
The Giants finished 4½ games behind the Eagles – and 2½ games in back of second-place Dallas – and were a combined 0-5 against them. They scored 112 fewer points than Philadelphia and 102 fewer than Dallas and their 371 points allowed was more than any of their three division rivals gave up.
Can Schoen and Co. improve those disparities one offseason?
"We're going to try to do the best we can," Schoen said. "We're always going to try to build a better roster, players, whatever it may be, whatever it is – resources around here – whatever it is. Anything that we can do that's in the best interest of the franchise is going to make us better. You can't put a timeframe on that, but we're going to be relentless in the pursuit of building a championship team here."
Several prominent Giants players are unrestricted free agents, notably Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and Julian Love. Left tackle Andrew Thomas and defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence – both second-team All-Pros – are eligible for contract extensions. The Giants will bolster their roster through free agency and the draft.
Coach Brian Daboll declined to specify where the Giants most need improvement.
"We'll dive into that as a coaching staff here, spend a lot of time on self-scout and process and things we can improve on, whether that's night before meetings, whether that's practice, whether that's situational playballs, techniques, drills," Daboll said. "I think you close the chapter on last season, but you need to figure out some of the things you need to do a better job of. Certainly, there will be a significant amount of things that we sit back, and we say, 'Boy, we could've done this a little bit different or improve on this,' and take a deep dive into it. Take your time doing it. And then once you get back in April 17 and start going through it, you try to implement those new things or corrections that need to be made or scheduling differences.
"There's certainly players that will be out there – whether it's free agents, whether it's draft picks – that are talented players. But it's how you put together the team, how the team responds to adversity, how it comes together in the offseason, leading up to training camp the things you do in training camp – all the things that you go through each season, that's what defines a team early … and how you handle a lot of different things, the coaches, the players, the support staff. It's just a new year. Every year is just a new year."
Daboll has coached in the NFL since 2000 and has learned that good or bad, one season can have no effect on the following year.
"Every team is different," he said. "Just because you won one year doesn't guarantee you anything the next year relative to what players you have, what players you don't have. You take a look at last year's playoffs – I think seven of them didn't make the playoffs the following year. Two top seeds (Green Bay and Tennessee) had losing records. Our goal will always be just get better each day, try to put the best team we can together, work at it each day and not get too far ahead of ourselves. I appreciate all the people that had a hand in this year. Obviously, it didn't end up where we wanted to end up. It took a lot of work, it took a lot of energy, it took a lot of people in all areas of our building. Offseason started the day after we lost, unfortunately. That's where we're at. We'll do the best job we can of building up our team the best way we can, our organization and then going out there and taking it day by day."
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)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (9) kicks a field goal during the first half an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Wan'Dale Robinson
Fabian Moreau (37)
David Sills V (13)
Adoree' Jackson, Leonard Williams (99), Landon Collins (21)
Adoree' Jackson, Dane Belton (24)
Daniel Jones (8), Andrew Thomas (78)
Saquon Barkley (26), Matt Breida (31)
Julian Love (20), Darnay Holmes (30)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Darnay Holmes (30), Tae Crowder (48), Xavier McKinney (29), Nick Williams (93)
Daniel Jones (8)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Mark Glowinski (64), Tyre Phillips (79), Jon Feliciano (76), Andrew Thomas (78)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Daniel Jones (8), Casey Kreiter (58), Cam Brown (47), Graham Gano (9)
Darius Slayton (86)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Nick Williams (93), Jihad Ward (55), Adoree' Jackson (22), Julian Love (20)
Nick McCloud (44)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Darius Slayton (86), Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Wan'Dale Robinson
Darius Slayton Wan'Dale Robinson
Matt Breida
Darius Slayton
Daniel Jones (8)
