Coming into Week 18, I personally was fired up for rivalry weekend. I thought , no matter how piss poor a record is, end the year beating your rivals. On Sunday, the Giants and Jets clearly had that mentality.
Don’t let the brutal records to end the season fool you, droughts breaking to start 2024 is worth soaking in.
For the Giants, a lot of talk of a high draft pick have accompanied some giveaway games to the Bills, Jets and I’d even say the Raiders (where was that prolific Giants D?) , Cowboys in Big D when they did not go for a FG in the red zone down just 7-0, and Rams (really, we are going to go for two and fail instead of a game tying FG, then throw incomplete passes setting up Mason Crosby in bad FG range?)
Yet, On the first Sunday in 2024 a page-turning feel good moment was felt. With a massive win against Philly, snapping a five game losing streak and getting the taste of a few bitter losses to the Eagles out of their mouth, the Giants looked untouchable. We also didn’t look like a team tanking for a better draft spot.
This game features likely free agent, Saquon Barkley running it in as if he is in his prime and also had a receiving touchdown as well. Tyrod Taylor was on the mark most of the game and the defense looking as prolific as we are used to! Coach DaBoll’s play calling also worked to perfection on either side of the ball with help from Wink Martendale. Giants up 24-0 at half AND caused the benching of Jalen Hurts. The 27-10 victory was a promising send-off into this offseason and into a calendar year that will have many questions even if Danny Jones is QB1 heading into 2024-2025 NFL football.
Up north, the Jets had a solid chance to end above the Patriots in the AFC East. They also had the chance to snap a 15 game losing streak first New England, and they did! In snowy Foxborough, Breece Hall and…Trevor Siemian? Yes Trevor Siemian (!) lead the Jets to a 17-3 victory. Hall had some fun in the snow with his total yardage at 994 for this season having received the hand off 223 times. The defense also showed prowess that had beaten the Eagles earlier this season as well as had KC on the ropes!
Of course, A-A-Ron Rodgers road to the 2024-25 season will be most talked about this offseason, as will the curiosity be for what the Jets will get for Zach Wilson. Their other question will be who is a solid back up and quite honestly, hasn’t this whole season since 9/11/23 been a tryout for back up for Mr. Rodgers when he comes back? I think so!
While many will see the 2024 Draft as another fresh chance at fresh talent to help guide our local teams in the NFL season upcoming, we can hang our collective hats on a job well done in week 18!
Until April, may us downstaters BILLIEVE in Buffalo as the NFL playoff speculation starts now!
OneLegUpAlex 