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Giants continue troubling trends under Brian Daboll
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll looks on during the second quarter against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Giants continue troubling trends under Brian Daboll

By Conor Killmurray  |  Last updated Sep 7, 2025 7:43 PM ET

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has a theme for the kind of players he wants on his team.

"Smart, tough, dependable," Daboll said.

Well, Giants fans can depend on the team losing the regular-season opener with Daboll at the helm. Sunday's 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders marks the third straight loss in Week 1 since Daboll took over the team. 

Giants' history with Week 1 games

The last time the Giants won a game in Week 1 was in 2022. In his first season as the Giants' head coach, Daboll led the team to a 21-20 win against the Tennessee Titans. Still, it was a nail-biter, ending with the Titans missing a game-winning FG in the final seconds of the game. 

Since then, the Giants have lost their Week 1 games by a combined score of 89-12. All 12 points came on field goals — zero touchdowns. 

Part of the problem has been the team's slow starts to their Week 1 games. Including Daboll's lone Week 1 win in 2022, the Giants have been outscored in the first half by a combined 6-67, per Stats Perform. 

In each game, they didn't score a touchdown in the first half. A trend that continued against the Commanders on Sunday. In their last three season openers, New York hasn't scored a touchdown at all — something that hasn't been accomplished since the Detroit Lions did it in 1940-1942, according to OptaSTATS.

All summer, the Giants talked about coming out of the gates faster, and instead, it was more of the same. 

Week 1 loss sets up a familiar story for 2025 Giants

One could forgive Giants' fans for thinking the 2024 season hadn't ended, as Big Blue's offensive line was porous, allowing the Commanders' defensive line — a unit that was thought to be Washington's hidden weakness — to ruin their run game and harass new quarterback Russell Wilson. 

The roster isn't good enough to dig itself out of deep holes. 

Second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers is the best player on the offense, and every opposing defense knows that. So, they allocate all their resources to taking Nabers away, confident that no one else will step up. It's a bet the Commanders were right to make on Sunday, as Nabers had five receptions on 12 targets for 71 yards and no touchdowns.

The Giants were also hampered by star left tackle Andrew Thomas being out due to rehabbing a foot injury. Without Thomas, Wilson was sacked twice and had 17 completions for 168 yards while being hurried all day long. 

Sunday's performance aligns with how O-lines on Daboll's team have protected their quarterbacks since the 2022 season. The team has let up 11 sacks in the first half of their Week 1 openers, per Stats Perform, contributing to the sluggish starts the Giants can't overcome.

In the past two seasons, the Giants have missed the playoffs and have a combined record of 9-25. Daboll is almost certainly coaching for his job this season, and even with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart waiting in the wings, he won't have many chances to prove he can still win. For now, though, everything is trending in the same losing direction for the Giants.

Conor Killmurray

Conor Killmurray is a long-suffering fan of New York sports, particularly the Giants and Mets—a potent combination for heartbreak, if you ask him. He graduated from West Chester University with a degree in English and enjoys searching for the most interesting sports stories to write about.

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