2023 NFL Power Rankings: New York Giants

Preseason hot seat: RB Saquon Barkley
Current temperature of hot seat: Hot

This is and will remain a tricky one. Barkley has played well when he has been on the field but does have another injury on the résumé after a high ankle sprain cost him three games earlier this season. Just last week, Barkley declared "loyalty means nothing" when it comes to the business side of football. So, yes, he's a free agent again at the end of the season, and the Giants have another franchise tag available if they so desire. It leaves Barkley in a tricky spot during the final six games with that ankle still healing and no playoffs in sight. -- Jordan Raanan

Sunday's victory had to feel pretty good to Brian Daboll. The season has been an utter disaster, befallen by a rash of injuries, with the prior two losses featuring some sideline incidents and bickering among the players. That's never a good look, and it was nowhere to be found Sunday as the Giants' defense turned in arguably its best performance of the season, holding the Commanders to 19 points and forcing five turnovers, with a sixth one coming on special teams. Most importantly, the Giants' best defenders came to play after their unit had no answers the prior two games. Now Big Blue hosts the wayward Patriots in a winnable game and could enter the bye on a two-game win streak.

Give this group credit for winning a game with third-team quarterback Tommy Devito. He played well in beating Washington.

They're 2-0 against Washington, and 1-8 versus the rest of the league. All four of Big Blue's first-half TDs this season have also come against the Commanders, who also brought out HC Brian Daboll's lighter side when it came time to assess rookie QB Tommy DeVito.

New York is on track to have the fourth-worst offense in the NFL (based on EPA per game) in the last 20 years and somehow won a game Sunday. That moves them up in these rankings but down in the 2024 draft order, where they now sit fifth. The Giants' scoring margin (minus-136) is the worst in the NFL.

Where were you when the legend of Tommy DeVito took on a new life? No matter what happens from here, it's incredible that the guy was sacked nine times and still managed to finish with the third-best passer rating of the week. And no matter what else happens, Giants fans can always say this sorry team swept the Commanders.

Tommy DeVito stuck it to a lot of doubters who said he shouldn't start again (raises hand). He threw for three touchdowns and looked good against the Commanders in a win. No matter what happens the rest of his career, DeVito will always have that day.

So much for having a shot at a franchise quarterback in the draft.

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