Looking back at 6 keys to the NY Giants season, and how things went wrong

There is no universe in which the 3-13 New York Giants’ 2025 season can be considered successful. Back in the summer, though, there was optimism that things might be looking up for the Giants. Finally.

As training camp and an undefeated preseason ended and the regular season approached, I put together a list of what I thought were six keys to a successful 2025 season.

As the season comes to an unsatisfying conclusion, let’s look back at those six keys and see how each played out.

Quarterback play

The Giants, basically, threw last season’s 3-13 mess at the feet of Daniel Jones and screamed “his fault.” Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito, too.

They insisted that better quarterback play would elevate a team that lost eight one-score games and a 10-point game in 2024 where a play or two from the quarterback might have changed the outcome.

GM Joe Schoen was desperate enough to prove that that he spent the offseason changing future Hall of Famers. There were discussions about Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers before the Giants landed on Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston as a veteran duo, then drafted Jaxson Dart as the future.

Just about the only thing Schoen didn’t consider was calling Philip Rivers.

There was hope that Wilson had enough left to stabilize the position until the Giants were ready to turn the keys over to Dart.

All the Giants got for the $10 million they spent on Wilson was three losses. Even in Wilson’ 450-yard game against the Dallas Cowboys, mistakes in overtime by the quarterback contributed to the loss.

So, Wilson was a bad gamble by Schoen.

Dart more or less proved the point that better quarterback play could lead to better results as he helped the Giants defeat the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, both playoff teams, in his first three weeks as the starter.

Dart, though, could not in the end overcome all of the other issues the Giants had — injuries to offensive playmakers, disastrous defense, placekicking woes and other special teams nightmares.

On the bright side, Dart was better in 2025 than any quarterback the Giants used in 2023 or 2024. He offers them hope for the future, and that is something to hang on to.

Health of key players

Well, we know how this one turned out.

• Star wide receiver Malik Nabers was lost to a torn ACL in Week 4.
• Running back Cam Skattebo had his season end with a fractured ankle in Week 7.
• Starting linebacker Micah McFadden hasn’t played since Week 1 due to a foot injury.
• Star left tackle Andrew Thomas missed two games at the beginning and two games at the end of the season.
• Edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux played in just 10 games.
• Paulson Adebo, signed to be the team’s No. 1 cornerback, missed five games with a knee injury. He didn’t play up to expectations when he was on the field....