Giants news, 1/2: Giants underdog to Eagles, Tyre Phillips, Dane Belton, more headlines

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

Giants-Eagles Week 18 odds: Better odds for the rematch
The Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Giants by eight points on Christmas Day, but their recent struggles mean bettors are giving them slightly worse odds for the Week 18 rematch in East Rutherford. The Eagles opened as 6.5-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook, with -270 moneyline odds. The over/under is set at 46.5 points.

Because the Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions this week, Dallas can now clinch the NFC East title with a win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The Eagles would need to beat the Giants and have Dallas lose in order to win the division and host a first-round playoff game.

The Giants are 3-3 against the spread this year when their opponent is favored by 6.5 points or more. They’ve only won one such game outright, against the Commanders in November.

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Other Giant observations

Notebook: Dane Belton chases more than turnovers; Tyre Phillips to have surgery | Giants.com

The completion gained 80 yards and the Rams scored a touchdown on the next play, but that didn’t diminish Belton’s extraordinary effort, which coach Brian Daboll lauded on a Zoom call with reporters this morning.

“I know he had the turnovers, but the one play that I was really impressed with is the play that they broke out for the long gain on the hitch route,” Daboll said. “His chase, to run down there and to finish, he showed some good long speed. Running to the ball when you think a guy might score, I just thought the effort he had on that play was indicative of what the young man is about.”

Politi: Brian Daboll’s dismal second Giants season keeps getting worse | NJ.com

Giants fans no doubt would like to have plenty of things back, too. Like, for example, their season-ticket deposit. Or, better yet, the thousands they flushed down the toilet for their PSLs. Or, short of that, maybe just a few of the many Sunday afternoons they’ve wasted watching this team find new ways to lose games this season.

How Giants’ loss to Rams sums up everything that’s gone wrong in 2023 season | SNY.tv

The Giants went 9-7-1, then beat the Vikings in the first round, because they found a way to make up for their talent disadvantages. They out-grinded, out-coached and out-uglied their opponents. They dragged each of their opponents into the deep end to see if they could swim. Those who could beat New York — exposed them for their lack-of game-changers. The Giants beat those who couldn’t.

It hasn’t mattered because the traits that made them who they were a year ago are gone.

NY Giants: Review of 2023 NFL season | The Record

“It’s not all bad,” Taylor said, “just not good enough.”

That’s the story of the 2023 New York Giants, especially with Taylor at quarterback.

Giants’ QB change has been big boon for Darius Slayton | New York Post

The change from Tommy DeVito to Tyrod Taylor has been good for Darius Slayton.

Giants need young WRs Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt to keep showing progress | The Athletic

In Sunday’s 26-25 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Robinson and Hyatt took positive steps in their progression as NFL wide receiver.

Their progress starts simply with the fact they were on the field. A lot. Robinson played 83.6 percent of Sunday’s offensive snaps, and Hyatt played 76.1 percent of them, a season high for him. Robinson finished just shy of his season-high 85.5 percent, which he reached against the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago.

Giant turnover lurks in Jersey as Sean McVay’s Rams strut into MetLife | New York Daily News

Six days until the reckoning begins — until the consequences of the Giants’ 2023 dysfunction start coming to light.

Six New Year’s Resolutions for New York Giants | Sports Illustrated

Here are things the Giants must take care of this off-season to turn their season around.

The every game brilliance of Dexter Lawrence

7-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Drake Maye Succeeds Sam Howell | ProFootballNetwork.com

5) New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington. This one is simple. The Giants need a WR1, and Rome Odunze is built to be that guy. Odunze has the size-adjusted flexibility and route-running ability of a young Keenan Allen at 6’3″, 215 pounds, but he’s visibly faster and more explosive on the vertical plane.

In the second round, the Giants take Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona and T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State. With the 70th pick overall, Notre Dame RB Audric Estimé is the pick.

This week’s opponent

Nick Sirianni: We’ve got to stick together | Pro Football Talk

“Stick together. Stick together. Everyone’s got to stick together,” Sirianni said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of people trying to point the finger at different things and everybody’s got to stick together, right. We win as a team. We lose as a team. And together is the most important thing that we can be right now.”

DeVonta Smith injury: Eagles’ WR reportedly dealing with mild ankle sprain | Bleeding Green Nation

Things are bad in Philly, but hopefully aren’t that bad for DeVonta Smith, with new reports indicating the WR is dealing with a mild ankle sprain. He’ll undergo additional tests on Monday, but it isn’t expected to be a major injury.

2023 NFL Week 17 winners and losers: Ravens steal New Year’s Eve spotlight as Eagles |CBSSports.com

Loser: Nick Sirianni and the Eagles’ staff. If ever there were a time for the slumping Birds to get right ahead of the playoffs, it should’ve been at home against Jonathan Gannon’s Cardinals, who took Lincoln Financial Field with a half-sick Kyler Murray and a lineup full of spare parts. Instead, Sirianni and Brian Johnson got too cute down the stretch, and Matt Patricia’s defense looked helpless besides a first-half pick-six. There’s really no world where the 2023 Eagles should be surrendering 35 points to the 2023 Cardinals. Philly needs to wake up fast.

Spadaro: What happened against the Cardinals? Here are 10 takeaways from the loss | PhiladelphiaEagles.com

Arizona had possession of the football eight times and scored four touchdowns – all in the second half – and a field goal, rolled up 449 total net yards, including 221 rushing yards (5.5 yards per carry), converted 5 of 10 third downs and both fourth downs, and had the football for 39 minutes, 39 seconds. Nothing fancy – running back James Conner ran north/south and gashed the Eagles for 128 yards on 28 carries. When the game was on the line, with the Eagles ahead 31-28 and 2 minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the game, the Cardinals drove 70 yards in 7 plays and took the lead for the first time since an opening-drive field goal pushed the Cardinals ahead, 3-0. The Cardinals didn’t punt the entire afternoon.

Around the league

Commanders star WR gives sad response when asked about 49ers culture after Washington’s seventh straight loss | CBSSports.com

NFL expected to downgrade Brad Allen ref crew for playoffs after Lions-Cowboys questionable calls | CBSSports.com

Rams waive K Lucas Havrisik | Pro Football Talk

Dolphins OLB Bradley Chubb has torn ACL, out for remainder of 2023 season | NFL.com

Panthers owner David Tepper appears to toss drink at fans | ESPN.com

Odell Beckham Jr. says this Ravens team is the best team he’s ever been on ‘from the top to the bottom’ | CBSSports.com

Bears fans, teammates praise QB Justin Fields after performance vs. Falcons: ‘We all want Justin’ | NFL.com

‘Positive vibes’ surrounding Bears Matt Eberflus returning in 2024 | Windy City Gridiron

Arthur Smith, Terry Fontenot likely to remain with Falcons in 2024 | The Falcoholic

Steelers will stick with Mason Rudolph at QB in Week 18 | Pro Football Talk

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin clinches 17th straight non-losing season to begin career | NFL.com

Sean Payton confirms Jarrett Stidham will start in Week 18 | Pro Football Talk

Baker Mayfield (ribs) will be OK for Week 18, coach says | ESPN.com

NFL Week 18 playoff-clinching scenarios: Bills-Dolphins winner takes AFC East, Packers in postseason with win | CBSSports.com

Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches | ESPN.com

NFL season-long statistical review after Week 17: Team tiers, dropback outcomes and more | PFF

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