Sometimes the bye week allows a struggling team to regroup and come out looking refreshed. That's not how it played out for the Giants.
New York spent the week after its bye ditching former starting quarterback Daniel Jones, ultimately releasing the sixth-year pro after a humiliating few days that saw him get demoted to No. 4 on the depth chart and play scout team safety in practice.
Coach Brian Daboll said he elevated Tommy DeVito to the starting role because the Giants needed a "spark," but there was no spark to be found on Sunday against the Buccaneers, who came out much more prepared after a bye of their own.
After the 30-7 loss, Malik Nabers was one of a handful of players who sounded off on the Giants and their lack of preparation. Here's what they had to say.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Malik Nabers, teammates rip Giants after loss
Nabers called the Giants "soft as f—" after Sunday's loss, complaining about his usage, as well.
"First, second quarter, I don't get the ball ... I mean, I can't do nothing," Nabers said, explaining that he didn't start seeing regular targets until New York was trailing 30-0. His first target didn't come until the third quarter.
MORE: Will Giants fire Brian Daboll? | Baker Mayfield mocks Tomm DeVito's TD celebration
Nabers called out Daboll and the offensive staff, imploring reporters to "talk to Dabes" when asked why he wasn't seeing early-game targets from DeVito.
"Obviously, it ain't the quarterback," Nabers said. "Same outcome when we had [Jones] at quarterback. Take a look. It ain't the quarterback."
Malik Nabers: “I know I’m tired of losing”
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) November 24, 2024
Says it’s not the quarterback pic.twitter.com/CA6tH0r87x
Pass-rusher Brian Burns had a more succinct take when asked how it felt to trail 30-0, telling reporters, "It's a—." Burns, who was in Carolina for a 2-15 season last year, added that he addressed the team after the game.
MORE: Top landing spots for Daniel Jones after release
DL Dexter Lawrence echoed some of Nabers' sentiments, telling reporters the Giants were "soft" and calling his frustration level a 10 out of 10. OT Jermaine Eluemunor, meanwhile, said he doesn't think everybody on the team is "giving 100 percent."
Dexter Lawrence saying #Giants played “soft.”
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) November 24, 2024
Malik Nabers with a similar assessment of team being soft.
Jermaine Eluemunor saying “I personally don’t think everybody is giving 100%”
The 2-9 Giants lost 30-7 to the Bucs. They play again on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys.
Still, Lawrence took the high road and expressed his determination to get the team back on track. "It's a long process ... and I'm here for it," he said. "I'm going to lead."
The biggest question surrounding the Giants over the final six weeks of the season might be whether that process will include Daboll. The embattled coach wasn't necessarily expected to lead New York to the playoffs this season, but the year has spiraled out of control faster than most expected. The Giants are tied for the NFL's worst record at 2-9, and comments like Nabers' about the effort level of the team don't reflect well on the coaching staff.
Daboll would be the fourth consecutive Giants coach to last three seasons or fewer, but each blowout loss makes it tougher for owner John Mara to justify keeping the team's braintrust intact.
