The New York Giants stayed alive in the NFC East game en route to Game 256 of the NFL regular season, and the Philadelphia Eagles had to beat the Washington soccer team in the final game of the season to win the division title – albeit with a 6-10 record. The Eagles did the Giants no favors by pulling Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter of a 17-14 game, with an opportunity to continue to upset Washington (Philadelphia falls on Washington 20-14).
Giant players were upset about the move by Eagles coach Doug Pederson, who has sparked controversy throughout the league over the obvious intent to lose for a better draft pick – even if Pederson says he plays to win.
As for Giants coach Joe Judge? He was not happy with the behavior of the Eagles.
“The one thing to keep in mind this season is that there were a lot of people who wanted to act for this. Coaches, players, who also include family members,” Judge said on Monday. via SNY Giants. ‘To look at a group of men I have to ask to use my day-in, day-out base and empty the tank – and I can look them in the eye and assure them everything to put it on a competitive advantage and puts them in a strong position. To me, you do not want to despise the players and their efforts and despise the game.
‘The sacrifices they made to go to work and test every day before they came in, to sit in meetings and wear a mask – to wear face shields over the masks – to follow extensive protocols, to behave in unconventional ways to travel, to receive text messages at 06:30 in the morning to say that the exercise will be canceled, to tell them please do not hand over your families for Thanksgiving; to tell them you should avoid Christmas gatherings.
“There are a number of sacrifices that are being made by players and coaches in this league. There are a number of sacrifices that are being made with the family members. For the effort that everyone has put in to make this season a success for National Football To make league, to despise, to despise the game by going out there and not competing for 60 minutes and doing nothing to help those players win, we will never do that as long as I am the head coach of the New The York Giants are not. ‘
The Giants have the right to be upset, but also ended the season 6-10 in one of the worst divisions in NFL history. They also led the Eagles 21-10 in week 7 by 6:14 – and lost 22-21. It would be the seventh win New York needed to win the division (Giants swept Washington this season).
Judge and the Giants missed a play-off chair, which will only intensify the rivalry with the Eagles going forward. The lost opportunity will definitely be a motivation for New York.