“I’d say anytime teams get a jump like that it’s always, you know, to have the lead at halftime is a pretty high percentage of having a chance to win,” the coach instructed reporters. “I appreciate our team. I told those guys I appreciate their effort. The entire year, their work ethic, people in the organization.
“But Philly deserved to win that sport. It’s a crash touchdown in the playoffs. Losses damage. These losses damage much more.”
Daboll, a Coach of the Year candidate, if not favorite, turned around the Giants franchise in his first year at the helm, alongside general manager and fellow Buffalo transplant Joe Schoen. By maximizing the under-regarded talent on the roster, New York surprised most prognosticators by winning seven of its first nine games and making its first postseason appearance in six seasons on the back of a 9-7-1 campaign. The Giants’ wild-card victory in Minnesota was their first postseason win since their triumph in Super Bowl XLVI over a decade ago.
But that’s where their dream season ended. In Philadelphia on Saturday night, 95 miles south on I-95 from their team facility, the Giants looked far from title contenders.
“I’m disenchanted,” Daboll said. “I want we may have accomplished a greater job. I want I may have accomplished a greater job. I really feel like crap. That’s as trustworthy as you might be.”
New York never recovered from its slow start against the Eagles, racking up just 227 total yards of offense and 13 first downs in under 25 minutes of possession. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts and Philly’s attack started hot and never cooled, totaling 416 yards and 26 first downs, converting 10 of 14 third downs and scoring touchdowns on four of its five first-half drives.
The division champs were in a different weight class.
“Give Philly credit score. They did all the pieces higher than we did at present,” Daboll implored. “Tough sport. We actually received beat in all aspects, so it wasn’t one factor in specific. It was a group sport and we simply did not get it accomplished. Congratulations to Philly. They get to transfer on and sadly we do not.”
What’s subsequent for Big Blue is grey. The Giants’ backfield duo, Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, are each slated to be free brokers, although New York is expected to try to signal each of them to extensions. The star operating again said Saturday night he couldn’t envision the Divisional Round drubbing as his final game with New York. The quarterback put off any talk of re-signing, telling reporters, “We will cross that bridge once we get there.”
Even if Jones and Barkley return, that doesn’t make up the talent gap between the Giants and the cream of the NFC East crop in Dallas and Philadelphia that was on display Saturday evening. New York’s leaders are optimistic they have what it takes in the locker room to improve next season.
“I feel the way forward for the group is vibrant,” Jones said after the loss. “We have a variety of younger core guys that made a variety of performs and stepped up and have been big all 12 months. There is actually a vibrant future right here.”
As for Daboll, the defeat was a learning experience from which it will be hard but necessary to bounce back.
“I instructed them to maintain their heads up,” Daboll said of his message to his Giants. “They competed exhausting. It’s a crash touchdown in the playoffs. Anytime you lose it hurts due to the quantity of effort and vitality you place into it every week. And once you lose this time of 12 months, it hurts much more. You work extraordinarily exhausting to get to this level. You’re blessed to get to this level. It’s exhausting to do.
“Give Philly credit. They did everything better than we did tonight.”