Giants down, but not out
Despite 0-3 start, N.Y. only trails in division by 1 game
Based on recent history, it would be easy to look at the New York Giants’ winless start and write them off.
Since the 1981 season, only six NFL teams have overcome an 0-3 start to make the playoffs. The Houston Texans were the most recent do it, two years ago.
Before that, it was the Buffalo Bills in 1998. The others are the Lions in ’95, the Chargers in ’92, the Bucs in ’82 and the Jets the year before.
Bottom line, it’s not easy. It might even be harder for the Giants under new coach Joe Judge. New York is a rebuilding team that won 12 games over the past three seasons and its performance Sunday in a 36-9 loss to depleted San Francisco was pitiful.
However, there is something working in the Giants’ favor. They play in the NFC East, the worst division in the league. The winless start leaves New York a game behind Dallas and Washington, who share the division lead with 1-2 records. Philadelphia (0-2-1) is a half-game behind them.
New York created some hope for this season with a dramatic comeback in Week 2. The Giants rallied from a 17-0 deficit against the Bears and came within 10 yards of winning on the final play, losing 17-13.
This past week was a couple of giant steps back.
Judge said he is trying to keep things simple so the Giants can improve every week.
Jets: New York is banged up and begging for answers to turn around a season that is already spiraling after just three games. They’re 0-3 and somehow it feels even worse. The heat on coach Adam Gase’s hot seat is at a full blaze, and the questions about whether Sam Darnold is truly a franchise quarterback persist. The Jets haven’t been particularly competitive in any of the losses, and now have a short week before a home game against Denver on Thursday night. Some are speculating http://timesunion.com.
Gase could be gone by the end of the week if the Jets have another poor performance. “This is the NFL,” Gase said Monday. “We’re 0-3. We haven’t played well. We have to improve quickly. My job is to do everything I can to get our guys in the right head space.”
Patriots: New England thrived last season when its defense was finding ways to take the ball away from opponents. It did that against the Raiders in Sunday’s 36-20 win by forcing three turnovers. It also dominated on third down and in the red zone against a Las Vegas offense that was efficient in both categories. They’re all positive signs as New England (2-1) shifts its attention to Kansas City.