The Giants may have pulled off a thrilling win on Sunday, but that didn’t stop questions about the team’s future—and the NFL’s draft structure—from flooding Brian Daboll’s Monday press conference. Nevertheless, New York’s head coach praised his players and focused on their upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Draft Lottery Debate? Daboll Isn’t Biting
With some fans feeling “conflicted” over a victory that could impact the Giants’ draft position, Daboll was asked whether the league should adopt a lottery system—similar to the NBA—to discourage teams from “tanking.”
“My focus is on the team we play,” Daboll said. “Doing everything we can do to compete at the highest level. I understand the question, but I was happy for the players.”
He doubled down on that stance when pressed further.
“Yeah, that’s not my cup of tea. You got to ask somebody else,” he said. “These guys come in every day, and they put a lot into this.”
Winning by Losing? Not in Daboll’s Playbook
Another popular refrain from critics: the Giants “lost by winning” in terms of their draft position. Daboll wouldn’t entertain that line of thinking, reminding everyone his goal is to guide the Giants to victory—period.
“We can control what we can control. We come in, we do everything we can to prepare for the week,” Daboll stated.
When asked how much he thinks about draft positioning during the season, his response was simple.
“Our focus is on the opponent we’re playing and ourselves each week.”
Saquon Barkley’s Success in Philly
A subplot of this season for the Giants has been the departure of star running back Saquon Barkley, now finding great success with the Eagles. Barkley is closing in on 2,000 rushing yards, and media members asked Daboll about potential regrets in not retaining the fan-favorite.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Saquon,” Daboll said. “He’s a heck of a player, heck of a person. He’s had a really good year this year.”
Still, Daboll wouldn’t revisit the offseason decision.
“We’re just getting ready to play the Eagles here this week,” he said matter-of-factly.
Young Giants Finally Find Their Spark
The Giants’ offense erupted for its highest point total under Daboll—also the franchise’s best showing in nearly a decade—during Sunday’s victory over Indianapolis. That kind of outburst, Daboll noted, is what happens when the offense avoids turnovers, hits explosive plays, and capitalizes in the red zone.
“We made plays on third down, scored in the red zone, made explosive plays, and didn’t turn the football over,” Daboll explained.
Wide receivers Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton each showcased impressive yards-after-catch ability. Daboll attributed that success to ball placement, player instincts, and solid blocking.
“It’s a collective effort. It’s the line blocking, it’s the quarterback’s read and ball placement, and it’s the skillset of the player with the ball in his hands.”
“Consistency” Is Key
With only one game remaining, Daboll emphasized staying consistent. He wanted the locker room’s mindset to stay the same whether the team was on a losing streak or celebrating a big win.
“I do think consistency is important. You don’t like negative results, then you don’t get too high with positive results. You look at the things you did well, and you look at the things that need improvement.”
Looking Ahead
As the Giants prepare to face the Eagles, Daboll side-stepped speculation about what Philly might do regarding its own starters—or Barkley’s quest for 2,000 yards. When pressed for an update on injuries, the head coach said it was too early to speculate but assured fans that rookie standout Malik Nabers “will be okay.”
For a franchise and fan base eager to build momentum, Daboll’s message rang loud and clear: there’s one game left, and the Giants are all-in on finishing strong—no matter where they stand in the upcoming draft.
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