WDHA’s 2-Minute Drill Looks At Thanksgiving Weekend Giants and Jets

Following a bad loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend, the Jets take on the Dolphins on Friday as we all digest our turkey.

Meanwhile, the Giants and Patriots meet up in what could be a really bad game (but you know we'll be watching anyway).

Jim Monaghan and Chris Swendeman break it down on this week's Two-Minute Drill.

JIM MONAGHAN - It's a special Double Play Wednesday edition of the Two-Minute Drill here at 105.5 WDHA on the Morning Jolt. Jim Monaghan along with Chris Swendeman. Chris, let's start with the Kansas City-Eagles game the other night. Just briefly, that touchdown pass that almost was that would have given the Chiefs a touchdown in the fourth quarter at the end of the game. But I'm looking and they were shut out in the second half. And I saw a number the other day, they've only scored 53 points in their ten games in the second half. You're not putting anybody away with those kind of numbers.
CHRIS SWENDEMAN - No, you need a strong second half in the NFL and credit to Nick Siriani and the Eagles for the coaching staff to adjust because they did not look good the first half, but they adjusted. But Kansas City, man, you know, you take Tyreek Hill out of that lineup, he's now in Miami, their offensive coordinator now in Washington, and you're looking at a, dare I say, almost pedestrian or average offense for Kansas City. And that's not something you could say about them in prior years.

JM - We've got a Jets-Dolphins matchup on Friday. The first ever Black Friday NFL game. As the turkey digests, what do you see with that?
CS - I think the jets may slow Miami down a little bit. Miami does not play good away from home as they do when they're in Miami, but I still think Miami is going to be too tough a test. The switch at quarterback may jumpstart the Jets a little bit, but I just don't see the Jets coming out with the W in this one. Miami is just too strong offensively and they're just going to run over them.

JM - I think the Jets completely disappointed me this past weekend. It wasn't the loss, it was just the fact they didn't show up. They were non-competitive in the game.
CS - Yeah, and the problem is the defense, you could see, started to get tired, started to get know, we're trying to give the offense a boost and a jump. And after a while, I think they just wore out with Josh Allen. And the fact that the defense couldn't get a break from the offense, just couldn't do anything, I mean, at all.

JM - And then Sunday you've got the Giants and the Patriots, which might be one of the worst games we've had all year. Tommy DeVito, who did look good this past weekend up against, well, we don't know who the quarterback is going to be for the Patriots, but they're having one of the worst seasons in their history.
CS - They really are. And I mean, for a Belichik-coached team, this is hard to watch. You know, do you kind of gamble on how many quarters Mac Jones will last? Because it seems like they pull him as soon as it gets tough, they pull Mac Jones and they kind of point the finger at him. So it's going to be interesting to see if their offense could even click enough that the quarterback will last the entire game.

JM - Have a great Thanksgiving, my friend. We will talk again next week. That's the Two-Minute Drill here at 105.5 WDHA.
CS - You too, Jim. Enjoy the holiday. Talk to you next week.

Well, this has certainly been a nightmare season for the New York Giants so far. The harsh reality is that Daniel Jones is out for a full year with a very unfortunate knee injury. Now, we are left with pondering what the possible quarterback scenarios for the Giants could be in 2024.

2023 was expected to be a year of growth, with a playoff push seeming like a very reasonable goal. We had a revigorated Saquon Barkley, the reigning coach of the year Brian Daboll, and a now $40-million-a-year franchise guy in Daniel Jones.

To put the first half of this season in perspective, after nine games so far, the stars of the team Barkley and Jones, only played two games together. The team has been crushed with injuries. This includes the best offensive lineman on Big Blue, Andrew Thomas. Big number 78 has barely played.

It's unbelievable the difference ten weeks makes. In late August, there were NFL analysts who suggested the GMEN could challenge the Philadelphia Eagles for the top spot in the NFC East. Now, we are wondering who the quarterback will be moving forward.

Right now, we are dealing with an open wound. We are a few emotional days removed from the news that Daniel Jones tore his ACL in Las Vegas vs. the Raiders. Furthermore, the poor guy was just returning from a neck injury. However, there are serious questions as to whether or not Jones will ever wear #8 for the Giants again.

This upcoming NFL draft features one of the best quarterback classes of the past ten years. In addition, these players each have unique skill sets that differentiate themselves from their competitors. The NFL is a QB-driven league. In fact, without a solid, healthy quarterback on your roster, your chances are limited.

The only week on the upcoming schedule that looks favorable is the bye week. Two games still remain vs. the NFC champion Eagles as do road games vs. the Cowboys, the Commanders, and the Saints.

Still, there are three general scenarios the Giants could be faced with at quarterback for 2024. One of them includes Jones, one of them does not, and the third is somewhere in between. So, in no particular order, here are the three possibilities.

The front office has believed in Jones since they drafted him sixth overall in the 2019 draft. Just eight months ago, the Giants rewarded Jones with a four-year $160 million contract. That means three years are remaining. Yes, that is a big commitment to still have on your hands, but the the fact is, that is more of a short-term running back contract as opposed to a franchise quarterback. However, has Jones really had a fair chance yet? It's a question worth considering, given that Jones has yet to play with an offensive line where he doesn't have to run for his life. The Giants can very well want to give Jones another shot (with solid weapons around him). Jones will be 27-years-old in May.

On ESPN's Get Up this week, many NFL analysts suggested this could be the last season Justin Fields is the quarterback of the Chicago Bears. Fields is still on his rookie contract. Can the Giants afford both Jones and Fields? No, probably not long-term. For one year, they might be able to get creative, however. Fields could challenge Jones (once he returns) to see who is really the guy under center for Big Blue. Where this really gets interesting is that the Bears and Giants may own three of the top five picks of the 2024 NFL draft. The Bears own the Carolina Panthers' pick from the 2023 draft trade. The Bears are 3-7 and the Panthers are 1-8. The Giants also have an additional second-round pick as a result of the recent Leonard Williams trade. So, there are pieces to play with here.

Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (UNC), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan). That's the cream of the crop of a 2024 class that is deep and full of exceptional talent. Those four QBs may very-well be four of the first five picks in the next draft. Only the Panthers don't need one, having just taken Bryce Young first. What's even more intriguing here, is this upcoming draft class also includes guys like Bo Nix (Oregon) and Jordan Travis (Florida State) who can be available later in round one or on day two. At least one of these major talents will be there on the draft board when the Giants are on the clock come April. It will be hard to pass on any of them.