These Giants could use a win, regardless of draft positioning

Micah McFadden knows losing all too well. The Giants linebacker ended his college career at Indiana losing eight consecutive games.

His current team has lost seven straight, two away from the franchise record. So what would a win mean after two months of losing?

“I think it would do a lot, just for the vibe within the building and within the locker room especially,” McFadden said on a Zoom call Monday. “For everybody on the team, I think. Obviously we've been through some tough games here. I think everybody on the team and everybody on the field has continued to battle through every game.”

Yes, the Giants have battled, but it’s been uphill almost all year.

Instead of living up to some proud past glory in their 100-year anniversary season, they’ve sunk to despair. They’ve been eliminated from playoff contention. And, at 2-10, they’re racing with the Jaguars and Raiders toward the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft.

The only thing left to play for is pride, and to avoid infamy. The Giants' 15.3 points per game is flirting with the team’s worst in a 16- or 17-game season (14.8 in 1979). They’ve set an NFL record with 11 straight games without an interception and, with just one pick this season, it’s threatening the franchise’s all-time season low of six.

Hoping for a win feels like the bare minimum. A Christmas wish from the pit of despair. But, right now, it’s worth a lot to a team that hasn’t had much to cheer about.

“What would one win do? Not much obviously in the grand scheme,” linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux said. “But I think, as far as continuing to chop wood and just continue to get better as a team, I think it would definitely be positive.”

Sunday might be one of their last, and best, chances to do it. They welcome a 4-8 Saints team with an interim coach in Darren Rizzi. The Saints are 1-4 on the road, down two leading receivers - Chris Olave (concussion protocol) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) - and lost do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill to an ACL injury last Sunday.

If there’s a path to a win, this is it. But, again, how much is it worth, besides a change in mood?

One more win means tying the franchise mark for fewest wins in a minimum 16-game season. They went 3-12-1 in 1983 and 3-13 in 2017. So, that counts for something.

A win Sunday would finally give fans at MetLife Stadium something to cheer about after watching the Giants lose all six of their home games so far. The last time Giants fans witnessed a home win was Jan. 7, back when Saquon Barkley scored two touchdowns against the Eagles in last season’s finale. Now, Barkley's scoring touchdowns at an MVP-like rate in Philadelphia. 

That day feels like a long time ago -- 11 months and one day come Sunday, to be exact. But a win would remind fans why they’ve put up with so much losing, awful quarterback play and a rash of injuries that now includes Dexter Lawrence going on injured reserve.

A win would soothe fans who’ve been hurt by losing four of the last five games by one score or less.

But, in the bigger scheme, a win would likely hurtthe Giants’ chances at the No. 1 overall pick.  It would mean worse odds of drafting a potential franchise quarterback like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward.

It’s painful to ponder, but so is more losing. Their last win was Oct. 6 at Seattle.  

A win won’t change the season being a massive disappointment. But it’ll be worth something in a season running out of things to enjoy.

“The flight, the post-game, the locker room, it's energy and it builds momentum into that next week,” McFadden said, recalling the mood after beating the Seahawks. “We can definitely use that right now.”

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.