The New York Giants sunk to new depths during their 35-14 loss against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, December 15, 2023, marking their ninth consecutive defeat of the season and leaving them winless at home with eight straight losses. This dismal performance has exposed the fractures within the team and sparked growing dissatisfaction among fans, driving them to take extraordinary measures to express their frustrations against co-owner John Mara.
Before the game even began, fans hired a plane to circle MetLife Stadium, trailing the banner: "Mr Mara Enough — We won’t stop until you fire everyone." This was the second consecutive week where aerial protests targeted Mara as the Giants (2-12) continued to falter. The Giants have now tied their franchise record for the longest losing streak, last set in 2019.
“Just control what we can control,” said head coach Brian Daboll, refusing to comment on the planes directly. Instead, he focused on trying to steer the team through what has been their seventh losing season since 2017, with many calling for changes at the top.
The Ravens entered the game with a strong playoff push at 8-5 and displayed their dominance throughout the match. Quarterback Lamar Jackson left a lasting impression, completing 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and five touchdown passes, proving to be the difference-maker on the field. Jackson’s stellar performance underscored the disparity between the two teams; the Giants desperately seek their next franchise quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Giants once again faced significant injury woes, with starting quarterback Tommy DeVito exiting the game due to concussion protocol just before halftime. He had led the Giants on one touchdown drive but completed only 10 of 13 passes for 68 yards at the time of his injury. Tim Boyle stepped in as the fourth quarterback to take snaps for the Giants this season, finishing the game with 123 yards and one touchdown pass to wide receiver Malik Nabers, who continues to stand out among the team’s disarray.
Nabers finished the game with 10 receptions for 82 yards, marking his third game of the season with double-digit receptions. With this game, he increased his season total to 90 catches, which places him just one reception shy of tying Odell Beckham Jr.’s rookie record for the Giants.
Despite individual performances, the game highlighted the continued struggles of the Giants. They remained the only NFL team winless at home this season, and the stakes continue to rise as they eye the future and the potential for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.
The defeat left the Giants tying another record: they last had such consecutive losses back when they played at the Yale Bowl, now nearly 50 years ago. The possibility of finishing the season without a single victory at home has fans and analysts fearing the impact it may have on the franchise’s plans. The next chance for redemption is against the Indianapolis Colts, but the upcoming weeks will likely determine the futures of both Daboll and Schoen.
Once again, the fans were left disappointed, with one stating, "This is just beyond frustrating. After such promise last season, we’re right back where we started." With glaring issues on both sides of the ball, it’s clear the Giants have interim decisions to make at the top of the organization, including their approach to rebuilding the team as they prepare for the remainder of the season.
The historic rivalry between the Giants and Ravens now stands at 5-3, with the Ravens taking control within the last few encounters, but this latest defeat brought forth discussions about what kind of future lies ahead for the Giants. The organization now faces questions about whether they will opt for rebuilding efforts or if they will continue to strive for short-term fixes as they approach the offseason.
Going back to this game, the performance of the Ravens shows they remain strong contenders, securing their legitimacy as playoff threats. The Giants, on the other hand, face the painful reality of being at the bottom of their division, forcing the franchise to confront some potential hard decisions—proving yet again, the stakes could not be higher for management moving forward.
While the future remains uncertain, the cries for change continue. Fans persist, hoping for redemption after another loss, longing for success and competitiveness from their beloved Giants. Until then, the team will need to dig deep as they navigate the remaining weeks of the season before the offseason arrives.
