New York Giants fall and rise
And now, the award-winner for the most dramatic performance during Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season: the New York Giants!
an enormous comeback in a 31-28 win
The G-Men went down 20-0 to the projected worst team in the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals, only to spring an enormous comeback in a 31-28 win. Daniel Jones was the hero of the day as he put up 380 total yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.?
The second-half rally saved what had been quickly becoming a throwaway season, but the story runs much deeper than that. Here’s how the Giants both lost and rescued their season in one hour.
A dramatic finish
The Giants, 4.5-point pre-game road favorites over the Cardinals, were one of the most-bet teams of the week at sportsbooks and in survivor pools. They were blown out in Week 1 by the Dallas Cowboys 40-0, but had made the playoffs the year before and upgraded their roster during the offseason, which left the public feeling bullish on their chances against their lowly opponent.
The Cardinals’ pre-season win total was set at a league-low 3.5 wins, and their Super Bowl odds were the longest in the entire league.
Before the Sunday afternoon kick-off, the Giants had Super Bowl odds of +8000, according to BetMGM’s John Ewing. Far from the shortest in the league, but also far from the longest.
At the end of the first quarter, even though the score was only 7-0, those odds had lengthened to +10000.
their odds had also been pushed down to +12500
By the time halftime hit, the Giants were down 20-0 and had been outscored 60-0 on the year. Their odds had also been pushed down to +12500, which was among the longest of all teams.
Something awoke in the New Yorkers in the second half, and they outscored the Cardinals 31-8 over the next 30 minutes. By the time the final whistle blew, their odds also returned to the +8000 they were at before the game started, almost as if it never happened.
NFL Super Bowl odds take shape
There are still many questions that need to be answered by the New York Giants. For starters, how did reigning Coach of the Year Brian Daboll not have his team more prepared in either of its first two outings of the year?
The second is how the team will perform without running back Saquon Barkley, who was lost to an apparent ankle injury late in the game. And the third is whether or not the Giants made the correct decision to award QB Daniel Jones a four-year, $160m contract this summer.?
likely going to get worse before it gets better for the Giants
A win is a win, but the result against the Cardinals was about as unconvincing as it gets. And it’s likely going to get worse before it gets better for the Giants as they play at the San Francisco 49ers – BetMGM’s co-favorite to win the Super Bowl (+600) – on a short week of rest on Thursday Night Football in Week 3.
NY’s +8000 Super Bowl odds puts them ahead of only eight teams and has them level with often-overlooked franchises such as the Washington Commanders. Assuming a loss to the Niners, those odds would presumably lengthen even further.
The Kansas City Chiefs are level with the Niners at +600 odds to win the world championship in February. The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, both of whom are in the Giants’ division, are next in line at +800.