The New York Giants stayed alive in the NFC East race towards Game 256 of the regular NFL season, needing the Philadelphia Eagles to beat the Washington Football Team in the final game of the season to win the division title – albeit with a 6- 10. The Eagles did the Giants no favors by taking out Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter of a 17-14 game, with an opportunity to upset Washington still in play (Philadelphia fell to Washington 20-14).
Giants players were upset by the change in Eagles coach Doug Pederson, who sparked controversy throughout the championship over the obvious intention of losing by a better choice in the draft – even if Pederson said he was playing to win.
As for Giants coach Joe Judge? He was not very satisfied with the Eagles’ behavior.
“The only thing to keep in mind this season is – a lot of people have chosen to come in. Coaches, players, that includes family members too,” said Judge on Monday, via SNY Giants. “Looking at a group of men that I ask you to work on every day and empty your tank – and I can look them in the eye and guarantee them everything I can to put them in a competitive advantage and put them in a position of strength. For me, you don’t want to disrespect these players and their effort and disrespect the game.
“The sacrifices they made to go to work every day and test before entering, to sit in spaced meetings and to wear a mask – to wear face shields over those masks – to go through extensive protocols, to travel in ways not conventional, to receive text messages at 6:30 am saying that training is going to be canceled, to tell them please do not receive their families on Thanksgiving, to tell them to please avoid Christmas parties.
“There are a number of sacrifices made by players and coaches in this league. There are a number of sacrifices that come along with the family members connected to them. By disrespecting the effort that everyone has made to make this season a success for the National Football League, the disrespect the game by going out there and not competing for 60 minutes and doing nothing to help these players win. We will never do that as long as I coach the New York Giants. “
The Giants have a right to be upset, but they also finished 6-10 of the season in one of the worst divisions in NFL history. They also led the Eagles 21-10 in Week 7 with 6:14 to play – and lost 22-21. That would have been the seventh victory New York needed to win the division (the Giants beat Washington this season).
The judge and the Giants lost a place in the playoffs, which will only intensify rivalry with the Eagles in the attack. The missed opportunity will certainly be a motivation for New York.