Unsurprisingly, a New York Giants player is still upset about the Eagles removing their starters from their Week 17 contest against the Washington Football Team. For those who need a quick recap of why New York has been sobbing over what happened during that Sunday night game, if the Eagles would have defeated Washington, the Giants would’ve entered the postseason as the NFC East winners.
The game between Washington and Philly was pretty close throughout, until Doug Pederson decided to pull his starters in a clear tank job, which ensured Washington’s victory and division crown.
The cries from Giants players and fans on social media following the game was just embarrassing. Everyone made a big fuss about it for about three days, and then it was onto the NFL playoffs. That’s where the complaining should have stopped. But alas, the Giants just couldn’t contain their tears.
Xavier McKinney, a second round pick of the Giants last year, appeared on the All Things Covered podcast, where he said he still holds a grudge over Philly for what happened nearly half a year ago. McKinney sat out most of the 2020 season with an injury, but elected to play in Week 17 with his team’s playoff chances on the line. He recorded a late game interception in the end zone that essentially sealed the W for New York.
“I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t [hold a grudge], man. I’m not gonna lie,” McKinney said on his podcast appearance. “That was my first pick, and knowing the year that I had just being injured pretty much the whole year and then coming back and being able to help my team get to where we were supposed to be. And then going home, we all celebrate in the locker room, everybody happy, we’re like, ‘Hey, hopefully the Eagles take care of business, which I’m sure they will.”
Well, the Eagles didn’t take care of business and they actively worked towards losing the game against Washington.
Say what you want about intentionally losing, every team has done at one point or another so acting like what the Eagles did was malpractice or a disgrace to the game is laughable.
To any Giants fan who may or may not be reading this, this is all I have to say to you about your team missing the playoffs last season: win more than six games. Simple. At least reach .500 before you go accusing another team for your shortcomings.
Oh, and here’s one more thing to keep in mind. If the Giants would have held onto their 11-point lead against the Eagles in their first matchup of the season, the outcome of the Philadelphia-Washington Week 17 game wouldn’t have mattered. The Giants would have had the division locked up with their win over Dallas.
Following a deflating 15 play, 97-yard touchdown drive by New York, the Giants held a 11-point lead in the 4th quarter. With 6:17 left in the game, New York’s chance of winning was at 96.9 percent. They subsequently blew that lead in the final minutes of the game to the worst starting quarterback in football last season. Maybe I’m missing something, but that seems more like a you (Giants) problem, than a me (Eagles) problem.
Your shitty season is on you, New York. Have a winning season before you start finger pointing, alright? I know it’s been half a decade since you’ve made the playoffs, but hey, there’s nowhere to go but up from here!
See you in Week 12, New York. Hopefully by then you’ll get over how irrelevant your franchise has become.