Brian Daboll instilled in the Giants a belief that they were a team with a fourth-quarter mentality. He frequently reminded them to “bring them to the deep end — and see if they can swim.” He wanted them to be the team that never backed down, that kept going when the going got tough. On Sunday January 15, 2023, the Giants showcased their resiliency, prevailing in the final quarter and winning the NFC Wild Card game against the Vikings 31-24.
The Giants earned their first postseason win since their 2011 Super Bowl championship, granting them the chance to play the Eagles, who are the top seed in the divisional round, in Philadelphia next weekend. The Vikings, however, were sorely disappointed despite their 13-4 regular season record and home playoff game, as their defense could not make enough stops for them to advance.
To kick off the game, the Vikings began with a impressive 75-yard touchdown drive. The Giants immediately responded with an identical 75-yard touchdown drive of their own. Jones spread the ball around cutting up the Vikings’ defense. Barkley had five carries, one of which he didn’t waste – he scored a 28-yard touchdown that gave the Giants a slight lead of 17-14 at the half.
The team got off to a strong start in the second half with a spectacular 75-yard TD drive completed in just 3:23, that put them ahead 24-14. The Vikings fought back with a touchdown and a field goal which tied the game at 24-24 early on in the 4th quarter.
Saquon Barkley didn’t have a ton of carries but he made the most of them, scoring a touchdown on a 2-yard run to give the Giants a 31-24 advantage. The Vikings had a chance to reclaim their lead, getting the ball on their own 12-yard line with 2:56 left in the game, but their opportunity dissipated as Kirk Cousins completed a pass well short of the sticks on 4th down. Cheers of “Let’s go Giants!” filled the stadium as the clock ran out.
Daniel Jones made history on Sunday, becoming the first player in NFL history to pass for more than 300 yards, throw two or more touchdown passes, and rush for over 70 yards in a playoff game. This season, Jones has done a better job of holding onto the football and minimizing turnovers.
When Brian Daboll arrived in New York, he was lauded for having transformed Bills quarterback Josh Allen from a raw rookie into a contender for the MVP award. While this feat was impressive, the work he has done with Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is equally so. Allen had an abundance of talent, but needed to be developed from the ground up. In contrast, Jones had already gone through three years of NFL coaching and spent four years at Duke in the tutelage of the renowned QB specialist David Cutcliffe. It was never a case of starting with a blank canvas for Daboll, but it is clear that he and his staff have successfully unlocked Jones’s potential.
When Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen first took the job, the duo reviewed Jones’ first three seasons and elected not to exercise his $22.4 million fifth-year option for 2023. A $22.4 million salary for next year would be a bargain at this point, but the brain trust understandably chose not to guarantee that amount in case Jones flopped. It was essentially a $10 million hedge against Jones, as the Giants brass knew they could always retain Jones for $32.4 million with the franchise tag if he made a Year 4 leap.After the spectacular win against the Vikings, The Giants will happily pay that $10 million difference — and potentially much more in a multi-year deal.
The Giants’ brain trust opted against guaranteeing Jones’s $22.4 million 5th year option knowing they can franchise tag him year. However, with the magnificent victory against the Vikings, the Giants are now willing to discuss a long-term agreement.
Coach Daboll defied expectations and proved he is nothing like the Giants’ predecessors in the past five seasons. He became the second first-year coach in Giants history to win a playoff game– a feat that will be remembered by Giants fans for years to come. Now, Daboll has the opportunity to extend his success even further next weekend, as he and the Giants head down the road to Philadelphia.