Giants’ Struggles Continue Amid Coaching Uncertainty

MUNICH — In a season that has spiraled into disappointment, New York Giants co-owner John Mara expressed his support for head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen on October 24. However, that reassurance has become increasingly precarious following three consecutive losses, culminating in a disheartening 20-17 overtime defeat to the struggling Carolina Panthers on Sunday, witnessed by an international audience.

Mara’s public declaration that “we are not making any changes this season” might be the only thing standing between Daboll and Schoen and a potential coaching overhaul. The recent firing of New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen serves as a poignant reminder of how quickly fortunes can change; he was dismissed just a day after a narrow loss to the Panthers. Like Daboll, Allen was brought on board in 2022 and concluded his tenure with an 18-25 record in New Orleans. In contrast, Daboll’s record has now fallen to 17-26-1 following Sunday’s gut-wrenching loss.

GO DEEPER: Panthers stave off Giants with 20-17 OT victory in Germany: Takeaways

Mara’s comments left a glimmer of hope for the current coaching staff. “I do not anticipate making any changes in the offseason either,” he mentioned, but the reality of the situation is far from rosy. It’s unlikely Mara envisioned the Giants suffering a defeat in Germany at the hands of the Panthers, a team that has cycled through three head coaches in just three seasons.

As Mara and co-owner Steve Tisch embarked on a lengthy flight back across the Atlantic, they were faced with a critical question: why should they continue to place their trust in Daboll and Schoen to navigate the team out of this deepening abyss?

• Mara is weary of the constant churn of coaches and general managers that has plagued the franchise.
• However, the argument for retaining Daboll and Schoen needs to be more compelling than simply avoiding another abrupt firing.

The challenge lies in pinpointing what this coaching regime excels at. Since a promising start in their inaugural season, where they began with a 7-2 record, the Giants have collapsed into a dismal 10-24-1 record, which ranks among the worst in the league over that span.

Daboll was initially hired for his offensive acumen, taking over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Mike Kafka after the Giants finished last season averaging just 15.6 points per game, placing them 30th in scoring. Regrettably, the team finds itself in the same scoring rut this season, also averaging 15.6 points, only narrowly escaping the bottom spot thanks to the performance of the Miami Dolphins, who are yet to play Monday night.

This season, there are no mitigating circumstances regarding quarterback injuries. Daniel Jones, the quarterback who received a four-year, $160 million extension after a promising 2022 season, has been behind center for every disheartening loss this year.

Sunday’s offensive showing was particularly abysmal. The Panthers entered the game allowing a staggering 32.6 points per game, the worst defensive record in the league by a significant margin. The disparity in points allowed by Carolina compared to the next worst team was equivalent to the gap between the 31st and 18th-ranked defenses.

In a first half that was marked by ineptitude, the Giants were shut out, missing a 43-yard field goal attempt by Graham Gano and throwing an interception in the red zone. This turnover occurred when a rolling Jones attempted a pass that ricocheted off the helmet of outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, landing in the hands of safety Xavier Woods.