Fans often boo when there is nothing to cheer for.
Leave it to the 2024 Giants to turn this basic truism on its head.
In this team, something bad will happen, and something joyful will happen.
Welcome to an alternate reality where losing is welcome and winning is nearly impossible.
“It's unfortunate that fans have that mindset,” tight end Daniel Bellinger told the Post. “But I can understand why the fans would be like that.”
As Giants players head into Sunday's matchup with the Ravens at MetLife Stadium on an eight-game losing streak, two contrasting thoughts are running through their heads: How? Understand what's going on.
Oddsmakers spoke and declared this a tremendous mismatch. The 16-point differential is the largest in the NFL this season.
The end of this game will likely mirror the situation at the end of last week's 14-11 loss to the Saints.
There's every reason to believe the Ravens will have the upper hand and end the game with eight seconds left. With time remaining in Week 14, Graham Gano's field goal attempt to send the game to overtime was blocked, ensuring overtime. The Giants remain winless at home (0-7).
Cheers could be heard around the half-empty stadium at Meadowlands as the ball deflected and fell to the grass.
The sound is more mocking than euphoric, as if the last remaining players are finding this latest wrinkle in defeat somewhat comical, while also hoping that the result will strengthen their position in the 2025 draft. It was as if he knew what kind of impact it would have.
In other words, losing was also a win.
“The fans are going to do what they want,” long snapper and team captain Casey Kreiter told the Post. “Our job is to put a good product out there and let people enjoy it.
“I promise you, it's more fun for us as players when we're winning. You've been preparing all week, putting your body at risk, and then you don't see the results on the field. It's not much fun. We're just as disappointed as they are. They spend their hard-earned money to come to the game, but they don't get to see the product they want to see. No.”
The Giants are 2-11 and have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft.
They haven't been favored in any of their last three games and have a real chance to finish 2-15 and earn the No. 1 pick.
This was too enticing for fans to resist, especially after several no-impact wins in 2023 saw the Giants drop to the No. 6 pick. They were too far away to get QB Jaden Daniels or Drake Maye. .
Shedule Sanders and Cam Ward are expected to be the top quarterback selections this year, but neither are as highly regarded as Daniels and Maye were entering the 2023 draft.
Just as players have grudgingly acknowledged that this kind of intrigue is inevitable in a lost season, fans also don't appreciate players thinking beyond the draft. must be recognized.
“I mean, they don't do what we do,” running back Devin Singletary said. “They're not out there working hard, and they're not here putting in the effort every day.”
Some of them are pulling for further losses.
“I don't understand that,” Singletary said. “I'm a competitor. I wasn't built that way, I wasn't raised that way, and I don't think I'll ever figure it out.”
Last week, a plane flew overhead carrying a banner imploring co-owner John Mara to “fix this dumpster fire.”
For those looking for more losses, the Ravens give Giants fans what they want.
“Nobody in this program or facility wants to sit here and watch fans cheer after a missed field goal,” Bellinger said. “That's not what you want.”
That's how it turned out.
