Is Joe Judge still the answer for all that’s wrong with the New York Giants? Over the next few weeks, we’ll find out if this team can succeed with him as their head coach.
The 1-4 Giants not only are entering the toughest stretch of their season, but their Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys showed why this is their toughest stretch of the Judge era.
Since becoming head coach in 2020, Judge has been consistent with his efforts to keep the team on message. With every loss, he’s maintained his position on what he expects from his players.
He wants them to be fundamentally sound – they haven’t always been that. He wants them not to beat themselves, however, that’s remained an issue this season.
And now with those challenges still at the forefront for Judge, his team is also battered and bruised.
Mounting injuries won’t help Judge get the Giants on track
In the loss to Dallas, the Giants lost quarterback Daniel Jones (concussion), running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), and wide receiver Kenny Golladay (knee).
That’s three of the team’s top offensive weapons going down with injuries. Furthermore, the Giants went to Dallas already without receivers Sterling Shephard (hamstring) and Darius Slayton (hamstring).
For Judge, his offensive line isn’t much better. Left guard Shane Lemieux (knee) and center Nick Gates (leg) are on injured reserve. Second-year left tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) was held out of the game in Dallas for precautionary reasons.
What’s ahead is a moment of truth
Injuries are part of the game for every team. But for Judge and the Giants, they have arguably the hardest remaining schedule in the NFL:
Week 6 (Sun., Oct. 17)— vs Los Angeles Rams (1 p.m., FOX)
Week 7 (Sun., Oct. 24) — vs. Carolina Panthers (1 p.m., FOX)
Week 8 (Mon., Nov. 1) — at Kanas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m., ESPN)
Week 9 (Sun., Nov. 7) — vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m., CBS)
Week 10 — Bye
Week 11 (Mon., Nov. 22) — at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8:15 p.m., ESPN)
Week 12 (Mon., Nov. 28) — vs. Philadelphia Eagles (1 p.m., FOX)
Week 13 (Sun., Dec. 5) — at Miami Dolphins (1 p.m., FOX)
Week 14 (Sun., Dec. 12) — at Los Angeles Chargers (4:05 p.m., FOX)
Week 15 (Sun., Dec. 19) — vs. Dallas Cowboys (1 p.m., FOX)
Week 16 (Sun., Dec. 26) — at Eagles (1 p.m., FOX)
Week 17 (Sun., Jan. 2) — at Chicago Bears (1 p.m., FOX)
Week 18 (Sun., Jan. 9) — vs. Washington Football Team (1 p.m., FOX)
The first five weeks of the season has been an emotional roller coaster for this team. With a fan base growing frustrated, Judge also must keep his players on the same page with the process.
However, with an injury-hit roster, and frustrated fan base – it’s logical to think players will start checking out on another lost season.
There’s always someone watching…
Judge, meanwhile, appears to be keeping a close eye on how his team’s handling the adversity.
“I always look at how they prepare,” Judge said. “How do you come in the meetings? How focused are you? What kind of mental intensity are you having in the meetings? What kind of communication do we have? And then when we practice, how are you practicing?
“To me, it’s all about actions,” Judge continued. “Guys can come in and they can sing a good song and they can whistle by the graveyard and all that kind of stuff, but when you come to work, how intent are you in getting better and how intent are you going to practice on the field?”
But just as much as Judge is looking at his players, it would be naïve to think they’re not looking at him. While it’s on the coaches to make necessary adjustments to the game plan, it’s just as important their message doesn’t lose steam along the way.
And then there’s the team’s ownership group which hired Judge.
How much more losing can team President John Mara take before he hits another reboot?
Therefore, the Giants are about to enter a crucial stretch in the overall evaluation of Judge.
Can he hold this team together while they mend from injuries? Will the players continue to respond to his message? And can he maintain the confidence Mara, along with co-owner Steve Tisch, have in him?
The jury is still out on Judge being the answer for the Giants. The reality of the situation is if the losses continue to pile up, his message will eventually get lost in translation.
