EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ. – The New York Giants’ dismal 2024 season took another nosedive on Sunday as they suffered a humiliating 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium.
The defeat, their sixth straight, marked the beginning of the post-Daniel Jones era and highlighted deep fractures within the team.
The Giants, now 2-9, failed to capitalize on a bye week to reset and looked woefully unprepared in their first game without Jones.
The former sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft had requested his release after being demoted to fourth-string quarterback earlier in the week. Despite lofty expectations when he signed a four-year, $160 million deal less than two years ago, Jones departed with a 24-44-1 regular-season record and a single playoff win.
Giants team owner John Mara expressed disappointment but gratitude for Jones’ contributions.
“Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way,” Mara said in a statement. “We are all disappointed in how things have worked out. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
A Rocky Start for DeVito
In Jones’ absence, local favorite Tommy DeVito took the reins as starting quarterback. Fans cheered as DeVito, a New Jersey native of Italian descent, took the field. Many even mimicked his signature Italian-hand gesture, a celebratory move that endeared him to Giants fans during his rise. However, the optimism was short-lived.
Tampa Bay opened the game with 30 unanswered points, leaving the Giants reeling before halftime. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who scored on a rushing touchdown, mocked the home crowd by delivering DeVito’s Italian-hand gesture in celebration. The gesture, intended as playful banter, only deepened the sting for a Giants team struggling to find its footing.
DeVito finished the game completing 21 of 31 passes for 189 yards and a late touchdown from Devin Singletary. But the Giants’ offensive woes extended beyond their quarterback. DeVito was sacked three times in the first half and repeatedly found himself under duress behind an offensive line plagued by injuries and inconsistency.
Malik Nabers Voices Frustration
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 draft, emerged as one of the loudest voices of frustration postgame. After being shut out in the first half, Nabers finished with six catches for 64 yards on nine targets, all in the second half.
“Soft as f—,” Nabers said when describing the team’s performance. “First, second quarter, I don’t get the ball. Start getting targets at the end. I mean, can’t do nothing. Start getting the ball when it’s 30-0. What do you want me to do?”
Nabers, who has gone five consecutive games without a touchdown or more than 71 yards receiving, questioned the offensive game plan and pointed fingers away from quarterback play.
“Obviously, it ain’t the quarterback,” Nabers said. “Same outcome when we had [Jones] at quarterback. Take a look: It ain’t the quarterback.”
He also hinted at growing tension with head coach and offensive play-caller Brian Daboll. When asked why he wasn’t targeted earlier, Nabers deflected responsibility: “Talk to Dabes about that.”
A Team at Odds
The frustrations voiced by Nabers were echoed by other Giants players, including veteran offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor and defensive captain Dexter Lawrence II. Eluemunor, who left the game in the first quarter due to a quad injury, didn’t mince words about the team’s effort.
“I personally don’t think everybody is giving 100 percent,” Eluemunor said. “You’re 2-9. You have to be real with everyone. This franchise and these fans deserve way better.”
Lawrence, who anchored a defense that allowed 450 yards to Tampa Bay, criticized the team’s physicality.
“We played soft, and they beat the s— out of us today,” he said.
While Lawrence stopped short of blaming a lack of effort, he highlighted fundamental issues such as missed tackles and blown coverage assignments.
A Game to Forget
The Giants’ performance was riddled with errors. Tampa Bay running backs Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving each scored rushing touchdowns, and Mayfield added one of his own, capping a dominant first-half display. By halftime, the Buccaneers led 23-0, rendering the second half little more than a formality.
The Giants’ lone bright spot came late in the game when DeVito connected with tight end Darren Waller for a touchdown, avoiding a shutout but doing little to change the narrative.
Offensively, the Giants struggled to find rhythm, especially in the early going. The absence of a reliable ground game compounded their issues, with running back Saquon Barkley limited to just 47 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Defensively, the unit failed to contain Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ balanced attack. The Giants allowed 155 rushing yards and 295 passing yards, with little resistance shown at any level of the defense.
What’s Next for the Giants?
The loss left the Giants searching for answers as they prepare for a quick turnaround against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Facing a heated division rival on a short week, the team will need to regroup quickly to avoid further embarrassment.
Daboll acknowledged the poor performance but refused to make excuses.
“We had a good week of practice,” he said. “Did a lot of work, and obviously it didn’t show. No excuses.”
The looming matchup with Dallas represents a crossroads for the franchise. While some players, like Nabers, continue to fight to turn things around, others appear resigned to a lost season.
Eluemunor’s candid remarks pointed to a broader cultural problem within the team, one that extends beyond the play on the field. “There’s a lot of people on this team giving everything they have. But it’s not everyone,” he said.
Tankathon Continues
With the loss, the Giants solidified their position near the bottom of the standings, increasing their chances of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While drafting Nabers at No. 6 in 2024 signaled a commitment to building around offensive playmakers, the team’s continued struggles raise questions about the direction of the franchise.
The quarterback situation, in particular, remains a major concern. DeVito showed flashes of potential but did little to inspire confidence that he is the long-term solution. With a loaded 2025 quarterback class on the horizon, the Giants may find themselves in a prime position to select a future franchise leader.
Final Thoughts
The Giants’ 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers was emblematic of a season marred by dysfunction and disappointment. From a lack of effort on the field to growing frustration in the locker room, the team’s problems appear systemic.
As the Giants navigate the remainder of a lost season, the focus will inevitably shift to the offseason and the significant decisions that lie ahead. Whether it’s identifying a new quarterback, addressing coaching concerns, or reshaping the culture, the Giants face a steep climb back to relevance.
For now, however, the once-proud franchise finds itself at rock bottom, with no clear path forward. As rookie star Malik Nabers aptly put it, “I’m tired of losing.” And so are Giants fans.