Sunday is going to be an NFC Championship Game from Hell for Giants fans, watching the perennially dominant Eagles play the upstart Commanders in a battle we’re probably going to be watching with envy for years to come.
But as a Giants fan, which team’s appearance in Sunday’s game is worse?
“Here we are, and every Giant fan is saying, all right, Jayden Daniels is gonna be there for a long time, Jalen Hurts is gonna be there for a long time, Saquon Barkley's gonna be there for a long time, Terry McLaurin's gonna be there for a long time,” Tiki said. “Like, you're looking at all these teams and the construction of these teams, and saying this isn't going away in a year or two and then it'll be our return. The fact that both of these teams are in the NFC Championship Game, and are going to be a pain in the ass for the Giants for the foreseeable future, that makes it daunting.”
“Well, it's intimidating because it's not just this year's pain of having to watch this.” Evan replied. “It’s the fact that next year when you hope to compete, the Washington Commanders don't appear like they're going anywhere. The Philadelphia Eagles have certainly told you in the Howie Roseman era, they're not going anywhere. They're gonna retool no matter what.”
So yes, one team always finds a way to be in the playoffs, and one went from No. 2 pick to two wins away from a Lombardi, so it’s difficult to watch – and, perhaps, Giants’ fans only solace is hoping this season was a flash in the pan for Washington the way Brian Daboll’s first season was here.
Oh, yeah, but then if that’s the case, there’s that Barkley guy…
“Saquon Barkley is in fact a winning player, and I can’t think of a worse scenario here,” Loogy said.
“Look, Barkley is having the kind of season that nightmares are made of if you're a Giants fan,” Evan replied. “It doesn't mean that Joe Schoen and John Mara and Brian Daboll were wrong to not bring him back, that's not the point – the point is he went to an archrival. That archrival is in the NFC Championship Game, and Saquon's rushing for 200 yards a game in the playoffs. How anyone can say that isn't a disaster in terms of what you're feeling right now? You're just lying to yourself.”
Tiki agrees it was the right decision to let Saquon go, but…
“If that player then goes out and does stupidly awesome things for a rival, it's gonna drive you nuts. You’re all right to agree with the decision, but then still be pissed off when he's doing it, and that's what's happening with Saquon,” Evan said. “It's not re-litigating the decision from March, it just he's on the Eagles and he's like the best player in the world right now. That's awful.”
One thing is clear: it’s going to be a LONG week for Giants fans.