Why 1-5 Giants think they can 'change a lot of people’s opinions'

The New York Giants fell to 1-5 on the season via Sunday night's 14-9 loss at the Buffalo Bills but took positives from that result after entering the game as double-digit underdogs. 

"I feel the growth that we have," veteran linebacker Jihad Ward told Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "We’re coming together. We fought. If we keep doing that, we can change a lot of people’s opinions about us." 

After the Giants suffered what were essentially four blowout losses over the season's first five weeks, defensive lineman and team captain Leonard Williams challenged teammates to hold each other accountable and stop being afraid "to step on each other’s toes." Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor then guided New York to within a yard of what would have been a walk-off touchdown versus Buffalo, and Williams insisted following the defeat that the Giants "have the whole season ahead of us" and "understand that it’s not too late to turn it around." 

Ward hinted that the Giants have taken Williams' messages to heart. 

"I feel like we’ve got an 'enough is enough' type of mindset," Ward added about the Giants. "All starts to a season are not going to look cute, man. I think the sky is the limit. I just like the way we fought at the end [Sunday]. I’m pretty sure Buffalo was like, 'Damn, these mother------- are really playing out there.' I can see the growth."

While it's admirable that players such as Williams and Ward aren't booking offseason vacations before Halloween, it's worth noting that a Giants side in need of a lengthy winning streak didn't know as of early Tuesday afternoon when starting quarterback Daniel Jones could be cleared from the neck injury that prevented him from taking the field at Buffalo's Highmark Stadium. Those running the Giants will likely have to consider making the club a seller ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline if New York fails to defeat the 3-3 Washington Commanders at home this coming Sunday. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Giants as two-point underdogs for the matchup against Washington.