Giants miss chance to clinch, still control fate

MINNEAPOLIS — The New York Giants missed a chance to make the playoffs on Saturday after they misplaced 27-24 to the Minnesota Vikings on a 61-yard area objective as time expired at U.S. Financial institution Stadium.

Due to losses by the Detroit Lions in Carolina and Seattle Seahawks in Kansas Metropolis, the Giants are nonetheless in a win-and-they’re-in state of affairs subsequent week after they host the Indianapolis Colts. Washington (7-7-1) additionally misplaced later within the day in San Francisco to assist out New York.

“We management our personal future,” Giants operating again Saquon Barkley stated. “Win and also you’re in. At house. That is lovely.”

The Giants (8-6-1) need to finish a five-year playoff drought. The truth is, they entered this season tied with the New York Jets for the worst report within the NFL over the earlier 5 seasons. They’re at present sixth within the NFC in one of many ultimate wild-card spots.

New York had its probabilities to clinch a playoff spot on Saturday afternoon in Minnesota. However the Giants had key drops, let an interception slip by way of their palms, had a punt blocked and threw an interception … within the fourth quarter alone. They did, nonetheless, drive down the sphere and rating on a 27-yard landing run by Barkley earlier than changing the 2-point conversion to tie the sport with 2:01 remaining.

The Vikings, the NFC North champions, drove down the sphere for the game-winning area objective moments later and saved the Giants from becoming a member of them within the postseason. For now, no less than.

“The truth that we did not do that’s kind of disappointing,” quarterback Daniel Jones stated.

It places so much on the road for Sunday towards the Colts.

“Enormous” is how extensive receiver Darius Slayton described that recreation. Slayton, together with gamers like Jones, Barkley, Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams and an excellent chunk of this Giants roster, has by no means been to the playoffs.

“I sort of really feel all these weeks [are huge] late within the second half of the season,” Slayton stated. “It is all the time, ‘You gotta win this week.’”

The Giants had been coming off a large win on Sunday evening over the Washington Commanders that put their odds of constructing the postseason at 91%, per ESPN analytics.

Coach Brian Daboll and many of the gamers stated they had been unaware Saturday of the Seahawks and Lions dropping similtaneously the Giants. Barkley came upon about these outcomes when speaking to the media.

Daboll did not point out it afterward when addressing his group.

“Yeah, it wasn’t actually one thing that popped up,” Jones stated. “Our focus was on this week and win this recreation this week, and we did not do this. So so far as how that impacts our playoff image, that is not one thing we’re targeted on. We wish to win the sport. That’s all the time our objective.”

Daboll even downplayed the concept the last-second loss was a missed alternative due to the playoff implications.

“I have a look at it as, ‘Let’s prepare for the Colts,’” he stated. “We had some missed alternatives [vs. Minnesota]. Repair what we have to repair and prepare for the Colts.”

Does that make subsequent week an excellent greater recreation?

“Similar as this week. Similar as all of the weeks,” Daboll stated. “They’re all large. There are solely 17 of them.”

The Giants have two video games remaining. After internet hosting the Colts they play on the street towards the NFC-leading Philadelphia Eagles in Week 18. How Philadelphia handles that recreation may go in a number of completely different instructions contingent on what’s at stake for each groups.

The Giants do not wish to depart it to likelihood. They wish to safe their spot towards the Colts.

“Ideally enjoying in entrance of your private home crowd and getting an opportunity to go on the market and get a win,” Slayton stated, “clearly that is what you wish to do.”