NEW SEASON, SAME OLD GIANTS

Welp.

It was only a few short weeks ago when Rob Williams, Matt Widdis and this writer went to the New York Giants vs. New York Jets pre-season game.

The vibes were pristine. The capacity crowd witnessed the Giants move the ball down field via Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston with great ease and aplomb. The defense was dogged and determined. The sidelines were apoplectic on every positive play. It was a complete 180 from the previous year when all hope was lost the moment the first game of the 2024 season ended. The Giants, for the first time, in a long time felt something that they hadn't felt in a long time ... hope.

Welp.

As the final seconds of the Giants opening game against The Washington Commanders, images of another Top 5 Draft Pick, a new head coach, a new general manager and a disastrous season danced through the heads of all Giants fans.

The New York Football Giants returned to mid-season form by the end of the first quarter of Sunday's game. Three-and-outs plagued an offense that looked like they forgot the playbook. The defense would take two steps backward for every positive they had. They allowed a good (but still developing) Washington Commanders look like the undefeated Miami Dolphins of the 1970s (oh and thanks Miami for making Daniel Jones look like Peyton Manning - like our day couldn't get any worse).

Russell Wilson, while he valiantly battled using his legs, forgot how to use his arm and his brain throughout the game. He looked as washed as we all thought Aaron Rodgers would look in a Steelers uniform. The offensive line, once again without Andrew Thomas, was as ineffective as ever stymying the run game, which ultimately hamstrung a passing game that seemed to forget that Malik Nabers and Wandale Robinson weren't the only people who could catch the ball. 

The defense allowed for the middle of the field to be a fertile crescent of first downs, while the question of "Wait, how do you tackle again?" plagued the minds of Giants defenders as they have since the last time Eli Manning hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in the air.

Does this deja vu Giants loss signify that it's time to start thinking of 2026? Have we lost all hope in Big Blue? Does the Groundhog Day effect of this franchise make us question if we'll ever get out of our frustrating everyday jobs that completely drain our souls?

I mean ...yeah, sorta.

However, let's remember a few things...

1. The Giants pass rush looks real as Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul all registered sacks and got after Jayden Daniels.

2. Malik Nabers can and will make amazing catches that no other human being will dare try.

3. Cam Skattebo can be a difference maker.

4. Paulson Adepo and Jevon Holland are both coming off major injuries that ended their 2024 season, so they can definitely come into their own.

5. This is more than we could have said about last year.

Next week is Dallas, and thank goodness I'm covering a music festival instead.