PHILADELPHIA — Whoever is coaching the Giants in 2025, it will be quite a gauntlet, given a schedule that is shaping up to be killer.
The Giants will play home games against the Chiefs (hello, Patrick Mahomes), Chargers, Vikings and the last place team in the NFC West — most likely the 49ers, in addition to their annual NFC East games against the Eagles, Commanders and Cowboys.
For their road games, the Giants will travel to Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas and New Orleans.
They will also play on the road against the Patriots, plus their division games in Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington.
LT Jermaine Eluemunor signed a two-year, $14 million contract to play for the Giants and he did not expect to end up in last place with a record of 3-14.
That was bad enough.
He also was disgusted on Sunday that the Giants dropped their regular season finale, 20-13, to an Eagles team playing almost entirely backups, having already secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC for the playoffs.
“There’s nothing really to play for, you have to find an external motivation to play through a game like that,’’ Eluemunor said. “And with them playing their backups, too, it’s kind of like a slap in the face. I understand why they’re playing the backups but for me, the type of competitor I am, I want to go out and play against the best. I never want to be a part of a game like that again or a season like this again.’’
WR Malik Nabers set an NFL rookie record for wide receivers.
Puka Nacua of the Rams had 105 receptions in 2023. Nabers finished his first season with 109 receptions.
Nabers did set a franchise record for receptions in a season when he hauled in a pass for a 3-yard gain midway through the third quarter.
Steve Smith had 107 catches for the Giants in 2009.
Nabers came on and off the field late in the game.
He said he was dealing with an arm issue. “I feel a little banged up but nothing I’m not used to,’’ Nabers said.
The beat goes on for the Giants.
The Eagles are the closest geographical opponent for the Giants and the Linc continues to be their least-favorite road venue.
This was the Giants’ 12th consecutive loss at Lincoln Financial Field — their last victory here was in 2013.
Since then, it has been 11 consecutive losses in 11 years, plus a playoff loss after the 2022 season.
The Giants finished 2-6 on the road and 1-8 at home.
In yet another low-water mark in a season full of them, the Giants for the first time in franchise history finished winless (0-6) in the NFC East.
The Eagles made sure to resist any temptation to use any of their marquee players, as they made 11 starters inactive: In addition to RB Saquon Barkley, those not in uniform for the Eagles were QB Jalen Hurts, CB Darius Slay, WR DeVonta Smith, WR A.J. Brown, LB Nakobe Dean, LB Zack Baun, T Lane Johnson, T Jordan Mailata, G Landon Dickerson and DT Jalen Carter.
Three starters were injured and inactive for the Giants: RT Evan Neal, ILB Micah McFadden and C John Michael Schmitz.