Giants, Daniel Jones share postseason expectations amid doubts

Quarterback Daniel Jones raised some eyebrows when he said last week he feels the New York Giants have "a better team" than they did at this point last September. 

On Tuesday, Steve Serby of the New York Post directly asked if Jones believes the 2024 Giants can make the playoffs. 

"Yeah," Jones responded. "I think I’m confident about our team and who we have and the work we’ve put in this camp and confident about the work we’re gonna put in this week, so we’re focused on this first week and we’ll go from there, but very confident in our group." 

Some believe it will be only a matter of time before the Giants bench Jones, assuming he stays healthy through the fall, so they can escape his contract in March 2025. Additionally, Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen reportedly haven't been "promised" another year with the organization beyond the upcoming campaign. 

The Giants have routinely been linked in rumors with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

"We have high expectations of this team," Jones said on Tuesday, "and we certainly plan to play in the playoffs, plan to play in the postseason. We’re going to get there by focusing on what we’re doing right now."

For a piece published on Monday, NFL Media's Cynthia Frelund listed the Giants' over/under win total at 5.8. Also on Monday, NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY predicted Big Blue will end Week 18 at 4-13.

Despite such forecasts, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas echoed Jones regarding the Giants roster. 

"I think we have enough talent to do it, but I think it’s more about how well we mesh together, 'cause we have a lot of different moving parts, we have one of the youngest teams in the NFL, so once we see how we respond to adversity, I think that’ll be the true tell of whether we can make it that far," Thomas said about New York possibly completing a trip to the postseason.

Following Barkley's departure, the Giants bolstered their offensive line, acquired pass-rusher Brian Burns and then gave Jones a legitimate top-tier wide receiver in rookie Malik Nabers. Linebacker Bobby Okereke is confident those additions will help the Giants shock doubters. 

"We added Brian Burns in free agency [to complement defensive tackle] Dexter Lawrence - the beast that he is - [and edge-rusher] Kayvon Thibodeaux is growing in year three [this year alongside] me and we have a very star-studded defense," Okereke recently told Leonard Solms of ESPN. "On offense, we all have a lot of faith in Daniel Jones. Malik, who is our first-round pick, obviously looks very great. ...We have a great leadership council, a great leadership room on our team, and we're just excited to get after it."

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Giants as 1.5-point underdogs for this Sunday's regular-season opener versus the Minnesota Vikings. Jones and Co. could make quite a statement by earning a home victory ahead of the Week 2 divisional clash against the Washington Commanders held at Northwest Stadium.