Giants news, 12/27: Playoff chances, Barkley and Jones, more headlines

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

Giants aim for clinching party Sunday at MetLife Stadium

The Giants can clinch a playoff spot in Week 17 with a win. They can even reach postseason if they lose to the Colts. Per @NFLPlayoffScenarios on Twitter, here’s how:

Washington Commanders loss + Detroit Lions loss + Green Bay Packers loss OR

Washington loss + Seattle Seahawks loss OR

Seattle loss + Detroit loss + Green Bay loss/tie

FiveThirtyEight currently gives the Giants an 89 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. ESPN’s Football Power Index is even more optimistic, putting the Giants’ playoff chances at 95.5 percent.

From Big Blue View

• Giants-Colts odds: New York favored to clinch playoff spot
• ‘A chance’ Adoree’ Jackson can return for New York Giants vs. Colts

Other Giant observations

'We're not in yet': Giants focus solely on Colts | Giants.com

What would it mean for him to make the playoffs in his debut season?

"We're not in it yet," Daboll said. "I'm not going to look too far down the road, and we're going to try to beat the Colts. And that's where I'm at with it."

Barkley calls out the Giants faithful to show up New Year’s Day

Serby: Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley must be Giants' co-faces of the franchise | New York Post

Even after he threw his costly fourth-quarter interception, Daniel Jones got off the canvas and fought back and marched his team to the end zone the way Eli Manning would in life-and-death moments and gave the Giants a chance to win.

Saquon Barkley has shaken off his slump and he showed you all the moves when offensive coordinator Mike Kafka finally used him as a lethal weapon out of the backfield.

Jones and Barkley are the twin faces of the franchise today, and there should be no doubt whatsoever anymore that they should be the twin faces of the franchise tomorrow.

‘I think he kind of balled out’: Daniel Jones consistent despite pick in Giants’ loss | The Athletic

One of the biggest storylines of the season has been Jones’ future in New York after the Giants declined his fifth-year option. There’s been no clear answer as Jones has not only shown improvement in Daboll’s system but also helped the team to a potential first playoff berth since 2016. He’s dealt with a revolving door of a receiving corps. Most recently, he’s been developing a rapport with Hodgins, who signed with the Giants during the team’s Week 9 bye. Hodgins finished with 89 yards on eight receptions, just one yard shy of the team’s leader James.

Coach Brian Daboll offers his thoughts on the week ahead

The NFL Playoff Race Survival Guide | The Ringer

This past week was a freebie. Sure, the Giants lost a winnable game in Minnesota in heart-breaking fashion, but that had almost no bearing on the team’s postseason chances, given that many of the NFC’s other wild-card contenders also lost over the weekend. The goal remains the same: New York just needs to win a game over the next two weeks, and they have Jeff Saturday’s Colts and an Eagles team that will likely be resting starters next up on the schedule. Brian Daboll’s staff has been pushing the right buttons and churning out smart gameplans all season, so there’s little reason to suspect a possible fumble of the bag here. Give Saquon Barkley the ball 50 times a game, or just spam QB keepers for Daniel Jones and that should be enough to beat Nick Foles or Gardner Minshew and a bunch of backups.

Baldy offers praise to the Giants receiving corp

Giants no strangers to being on wrong end of game-winning kicks | New York Post

Greg Joseph’s 61-yarder in Minneapolis to give the Vikings a 27-24 victory was the fifth field goal in NFL history of 61 or more yards to win a game as time expired. The Giants have been on the wrong end of two of them.

In 2017, Jake Elliott of the Eagles nailed a 61-yarder to beat the Giants 27-24. Sound familiar? When the Giants own kicker, Graham Gano, was with the Panthers in 2018 he drilled a 63-yard field goal to put the Panthers ahead 33-31. That kick, though, was not as time expired — there was one second remaining on the clock.

As Yogi once said, it's déjà vu all over again

FMIA Week 16: A Giant Anniversary | ProFootballTalk

Peter King writes:

Fifteen years ago this week, on Dec. 29, 2007, the 15-0 New England Patriots traveled to New Jersey to try to finish an undefeated season against the New York Giants, who, in a playoff sense, had nothing to play for. They were locked in as the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs, due to play at Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs, win or lose in Week 17.

It’s one of the best regular-season games I’ve covered as a football writer, which is paradoxical. Why was a game with two teams locked into their playoff positions so good? The Patriots had clinched home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs entering that night, yet played like it was a playoff game because of the potential for an undefeated season. The Giants, after beating Buffalo the previous weekend, also had nothing to play for.

Tony Dungy credits Giants, Ray Perkins for his coaching career | USA Today

Although he had considered joining them, a more appealing opportunity immediately presented itself.

“Apparently (Tom Moore) talked to Coach (Chuck) Noll, ’cause Coach Noll called me the next day and he said, ‘Are you really serious about looking into coaching? If you really want to try coaching, you ought to come here.’ So instead of getting on the plane to New York, I got on the plane to Pittsburgh, and at 25 years old I was a defensive assistant with the Steelers. But probably wouldn’t have happened if Ray Perkins hadn’t called me.”

This week’s opponent

Owner Jim Irsay on Colts head coach, GM options in 2023 | ProFootballTalk

Irsay said in an interview with ESPN that he won’t decide the head coach until going through a full interviewing process after the season, but that he wants interim coach Jeff Saturday to be in the mix for keeping the job on a permanent basis.

“Head coach is unknown until the interview process goes forward,” Irsay said. “Jeff I believe is an outstanding candidate.”

While the head-coaching job is in doubt, Irsay says there’s no doubt who the Colts’ GM will be in 2023 as “Chris Ballard will be our General Manager."

Nick Foles will lead Indy’s offense | Stampede Blue

Could Nick Foles be the spark the Colts' offense needs to turn things around? If so, it will have to be without Jonathan Taylor, who has been placed on injured reserve and will not return this season. This means Foles will need to utilize Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Parris Campbell, and Jelani Woods more than they have been to this point in the season.

It also means that the trio of Deon Jackson, Jordan Wilkins, and Zack Moss will need to do the heavy lifting on the ground. All have flashed the ability to do so at times in their careers.

Colts Elevate LB Segun Olubi to Active Roster | Colts.com

Olubi, 6-2, 220 pounds, was signed to the team’s practice squad on September 1, 2022. He participated in the San Francisco 49ers’ 2022 offseason program and training camp before being waived on August 30. Olubi originally signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022.

Around the league

Broncos fire Nathaniel Hackett after ugly Christmas Day defeat | CBSSports.com

This move comes after the Broncos were embarrassed by the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas, 51-14. Russell Wilson threw three interceptions, while Denver's defense failed to force a single Rams punt. There was also a skirmish on the Broncos sideline during the game, and then pass rusher Randy Gregory appeared to slap Rams offensive guard Oday Aboushi after the final whistle. Sunday was an absolute disaster for Denver, and the final nail in the coffin for coach Hackett, who was 4-11 in his 15 games as Broncos head coach.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa back in concussion protocol, status uncertain vs. Patriots | NFL.com

Tagovailoa reported to team doctors on Monday that he was feeling some symptoms, which led to being placed on the protocol, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. If Tagovailoa cannot play, it would be Teddy Bridgewater starting his second game of the season, after previously seeing time when Tagovailoa was in concussion protocol earlier in the year.

Sources: Eagles Pro Bowl RT Lane Johnson has abdominal tear | ESPN.com

The Eagles are hopeful that four-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson will return for the postseason, but he has a torn tendon in the abdominal area and is not expected to play again this regular season.

Mike White cleared to play in Week 17 | ProFootballTalk

White has been cleared to return to action by doctors. White missed the last two games due to a fractured rib that doctors were concerned could become displaced and puncture his lung if he took a hit to the wrong spot.

BBV mailbag

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to bigblueview@gmail.com and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV podcast

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View radio from the show’s home page

BBV social platforms

BBV on Twitter | BBV on Facebook | BBV on Instagram | BBV Radio (available on all of your favorite podcast platforms) | BBV on YouTube

Follow us on social media

BBV on Twitter: Follow @BigBlueView

Ed Valentine: Follow @Valentine_Ed

BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page

BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel

BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page

BBV podcasts: Click here to subscribe to BBV Radio