It’s finally time for the New York Jets to gain big-brother status in the Big Apple.
That was supposed to happen last year before four snaps into the season. Going 7-10 compared to the Giants’ 6-11 doesn’t count. That’s not least because the Jets were trying to trade up with the Giants for Rome Odunze, whom they would have been able to draft if those records were reversed.
Last year’s Snoopy Bowl got a bit chippy, specifically between Aaron Rodgers and Jihad Ward. With Rodgers seemingly unlikely to suit up and Ward elsewhere, perhaps this year’s version will go more smoothly.
To preview this year’s Jets vs. Giants matchup, Tony Del Genio of Big Blue View joined The Score Boord Podcast. Tony is my former colleague and covers the Giants through an analytical lens.
There have been several parallels between the Jets and Giants in the last few years. In particular, injuries, poor quarterback play, offensive line woes, and a lack of receiving weapons have plagued both teams. Where the teams have diverged most sharply is in defensive performance. The Jets finished third in defensive DVOA in 2023 and sixth in 2022, while the Giants finished 21st and 30th in those years.
Tony and I discussed many of these topics, starting with what to expect from Daniel Jones, the Giants’ embattled starting quarterback. Jets fans can only hope their quarterback play in 2024 will far exceed the Giants’.
Other subjects we addressed:
- Whether Devin Singletary is the worst starting running back in the NFL (which NFL.com’s Maurice Jones-Drew claimed), and how the backfield playing time could shake out
- The potential Malik Nabers vs. Sauce Gardner matchup in the joint practice
- Expectations for the Giants’ offensive line this year after they outbid the Jets for two free-agent offensive linemen, plus Joe Tippmann vs. John Michael Schmitz
- Who the better player is between Quinnen Williams and Dexter Lawrence
- If the Giants’ trade for Brian Burns was worthwhile
I did not bring up the Eli Manning Hall of Fame debate after discussing it with Mike Tanier of the Too Deep Zone Substack. (Check out that episode for my staunchly-held belief about the long-time Giants QB.) Manning is up for Hall of Fame consideration for the first time in 2025. I’m sure many Jets fans have an opinion on this matter, possibly contrary to widespread thought around the NFL.
If Rodgers doesn’t play, the Snoopy Bowl itself will mostly be a snoozer (although it will be hard to beat the Carolina game). The joint practice could be very interesting, but the most important thing for the Jets is to come out healthy. After that, it’s on to Week 1 in San Francisco.
You can listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
