The 2017New York Giants season was the franchise's 93rd season in the National Football League, the eighth playing their home games at MetLife Stadium and the second and final under head coachBen McAdoo. Coming fresh off an 11–5 season from one year ago, the Giants had high hopes of a Super Bowl Championship and were an expected playoff contender, but things quickly took a dark turn after key injuries and controversial decisions towards the team. A disastrous 0–5 start to their season (their second in 4 years), coupled with major injuries to the team including star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., had the Giants suffer to a franchise worst 3–13 record. By Week 10 after losing to the previously winless 49ers, the Giants were standing at 1–8, their worst record since 1980. The Giants were officially eliminated from playoff contention on November 26, 2017 when the Panthers defeated the Jets 35–27.
On November 28, it was announced that Geno Smith was to start against the Raiders which snapped Eli Manning’s 210 consecutive games started streak, which was the longest in the NFL at the time. After a 24–17 loss to the Raiders in Week 13 with the Giants standing at 2–10, both McAdoo and General ManagerJerry Reese were fired, leaving Steve Spagnuolo the interim Head Coach and Kevin Abrams as the interim General Manager. These were the first mid-season staff firings since the 1976 Giants' season.[1] Manning was renamed the starter for the Week 14 game against the Cowboys.
With a 23–0 loss to the Cardinals in Week 16, the Giants fell to 2–13, setting a new record for most losses in a single season in franchise history, eclipsing the previous record of 12, done five times: 1966, 1974, 1980, 1983 and 2003 and the worst under a 16 game schedule format. The Giants ultimately finished the season 3–13, their worst record in a 16-game season, worst winning percentage since 1974 and second-worst in the league behind the winless Browns.
On Friday, December 29, 2017, Dave Gettleman was hired as the general manager for the team. This led to the release of offensive tackle Bobby Hart and the benching of Ereck Flowers. Flowers started all games to this point being the only consistent starter on the offensive line.
The Giants' original fourth-round selection was moved to the back of the fourth round, after all of the compensatory selections, but no more than 12 picks after where their pick would have been positioned, as part of the punishment for illegal use of a walkie-talkie on their sideline during week 14 of the 2016 season.
Odell Beckham was declared out before the game due to his ankle injury. The loss of Beckham was too steep for the Giants to overcome who barely mustered 200 yards. The Cowboys set the pace early and were on the field for 47 plays in the first half. The loss dropped the Giants to 0-1. They are 1-9 in Week 1 games against the Cowboys, with their only win coming in 2016.
Even with a limited Odell Beckham Jr. the Giants struggled mightily against the Lions. Rookie tight end Evan Engram scored his first career touchdown. However, a 88-yard punt return touchdown sealed the Giants fate. With the loss, the Giants dropped to 0-2.
A huge rally in the 4th quarter was overshadowed by rookie kicker Jake Elliott when he kicked a game winning 61-yard field goal to drop the Giants to 0-3 and their fourth straight loss in Philadelphia. It was the longest game winning field goal as time expired since 2006.
The Giants suffered a ton of injuries throughout the game including star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. It was later revealed he fractured his fibula. The Giants blew a 4th quarter lead and dropped to 0–5 for the first time since 2013. This was their fourth straight loss to the Chargers.
Against a heavily favored Broncos team, the Giants pulled a massive upset to snap a 5-game losing streak and defeat Denver for the first time since 2005. This is also Manning’s first career win in Denver. Janoris Jenkins returned a Trevor Siemian interception for a touchdown in the win, his first as a member of the Giants.
This game was the first time the Giants played an interconference game on CBS since the 1993 season finale on January 2, 1994 against the Cowboys (before Fox took over the NFC contract in the 1994 season). The Giants defense played well in the first half, aided by an NFL record 10 play goal line stand, but unraveled in the second half as they tired out. They couldn't be saved by their weak wide receiving corps, along with a struggling run game that sealed their fate. With the loss, the Giants fell to 1-6 and lost to the Seahawks for the 4th straight time.
A bunch of miscues and turnovers let the Rams dominate the entire game. The Giants allowed 51 points, the most points allowed at home since 1964. This was the first loss to the Rams since 2001 and their first home loss to the Rams since 2000. This was also the most points the Giants allowed since they lost 52–49 to the Saints in 2015. Despite all the struggles and miscues, Eli Manning became the 7th quarterback in NFL history to reach 50,000 career passing yards.
Attempting to get their second win of the season, the Giants were upset by the previously winless 49ers. Their defense was porous, allowing over 450 yards of offense. Eli Manning played a strange game. He finished with a 113.9 passer rating, but the Giants only had 13 points until a meaningless 4th quarter drive. The Giants dropped 1-8, their worst start since 1980.
Despite the loss, Eli Manning had his 208th consecutive start at quarterback, tying his brother Peyton Manning for 2nd in NFL history in that regard.
Attempting to stop a 3-game losing streak, the Giants returned home to host the Kansas City Chiefs led by Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt. In a defensive battle, the Giants picked off the Chiefs 3 times and Aldrick Rosas kicked a game winning field goal in OT to improve the Giants to 2-8. This was the Giants first home win of the season.
Eli Manning made his 209th consecutive start at quarterback, passing Peyton Manning for 2nd in NFL history, only trailing Brett Favre (297).
The Giants offense struggled the entire game and was held to only one first down in the second half. The Giants dropped to 2-9 and were eliminated from playoff contention on the following Sunday after the Panthers defeated the Jets 35-27.
As he would be benched the next week, Eli Manning's streak of 210 consecutive starts by a quarterback is currently second in NFL history. As of the end of the 2017 season, Philip Rivers is the current quarterback iron man and is expected to finish the regular season with over 200 consecutive starts. The current NFL iron man across all positions is punterShane Lechler, with over 250 consecutive games played.
For the first time since November 2004, Eli Manning did not start the game in favor of Geno Smith in a moved that was universally panned by the football community. Present and former teammates, opponents, fans, executives, TV and radio show hosts quickly came to Manning's defense. An attempted comeback fell short dropping the Giants to 2-10, their worst record since 1976. Geno completed 21-34 passes for 212 yards and 1 touchdown despite losing 2 fumbles. The following day, the Giants announced that Head Coach Ben McAdoo and General Manager Jerry Reese had been relieved of their duties.
Both the Giants and Cowboys were tied up at 10 heading into the 4th quarter until Dallas scored 20 unanswered points and shutout the struggling Giants offense in the 2nd half to drop the Giants to 2-11. This is the first time the Giants lost more than 10 games in a season since 2003 and first under the Eli Manning era.
Poor special team mishaps and a attempted comeback that fell 6-yards short led the Eagles to win in a thriller of a game to drop the Giants to 2-12, tying their worst record since 1974. They also got swept by the Eagles, allowed them to clinch a first round bye, and the loss dropped the Giants to 0-5 in the division. Despite their miscues, the Giants dominated on offense going for just under 500 yards and Eli Manning had his best performance this season. With a Redskins 20-15 win over the Cardinals, the Giants will finish in 4th place in the NFC East for the first time since 2003.
Shutout for the first time since October 2014, the Giants offense couldn’t get into the end zone and their only chance at points came on a miss field goal by Aldrick Rosas. The Giants dropped to 2-13 and clinched their worst record in franchise history.
In a huge upset, led by their defense who allowed only 10 points and got 3 interceptions along with 3 sacks, along with a surging run game with over 250 yards on the ground. Orleans Darkwa set a new career high with 154 yards. The Giants defeated the Redskins 18-10 to improve to 3-13. With the Colts victory, the Giants locked in the #2 pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
This was the Giants' only win against a division rival or an NFC team during the season.
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