History has a way of repeating itself, and if the New York Giants’ pattern continues, they’ll either win the Super Bowl or part ways with Pat Shurmur in 2019.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY—The New York Giants disappointing 2018 season will conclude with their game against the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
Fans had hoped that with a revamped roster, new general manager, and new coaching staff, the team would contend for a playoff spot. But instead, the team will finish the season with double-digit losses for the fourth time in five seasons.
So, Giants fans will now turn their attention to the 2019 season and the upcoming NFL draft. Right now it’s too early to have any insight on who the Giants may take in the first round. But what we do know about next season is that the Giants will play the NFC North and the AFC East, in addition to their division schedule.
There’s been an interesting pattern for the Giants when they play the AFC East.
Since 2003, every time the New York Giants have played the AFC East, they’ve either won the Super Bowl or parted ways with their head coach.
- 2003: Regular season record 4-12. Informed Jim Fassel he would not be returning the following season as head coach.
- 2007: Regular season record 10-6. Defeated the 18-0 New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl 42.
- 2011: Regular season record 9-7 (NFC East Champs). Defeated the Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl 46.
- 2015: Regular season record 6-10. Parted ways with head coach Tom Coughlin days after the season ended.
- 2019: TBD
It’s an unusual trend, as the Giants go from either the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. It will be interesting to see if the pattern continues in 2019.
[membership level="0"] [/membership]Some may feel it’s up in the air that the Giants will bring back Pat Shurmur in 2019. But despite Shurmur’s career head-coaching record being 15-33 and the Giants possessing a record of 5-10 heading into Sunday, they have shown progress by winning four games in the second half of the season. That should be enough for them to bring back Shurmur for a second season with Big Blue.
But make no mistake about it, Shurmur will be on the hot seat heading into next season. And if the Giants have another double-digit loss season, he’ll be relieved of his duties.
A fifth Super Bowl title in 2019 seems far-fetched based on the number of holes the team needs to address this offseason. There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Eli Manning.
Teams that win the Super Bowl typically don’t have losing seasons preceding their Super Bowl runs. In fact, of the four Giants Super Bowl teams, only the Super Bowl 46 team (2011) failed to make the playoffs the previous season.
Therefore, it’s far more likely that the Giants fire Shurmur than win their fifth Super Bowl in 2019.
But stranger things have happened in the NFL. If the Giants add a couple of productive free agents and strike gold with their draft picks, anything is possible. With Saquon Barkley and the rest of the 2018 rookie class making strides in their second season, along with a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. returning, the Giants could be contenders next season.
Whichever scenario happens, it will be a dramatic event for the franchise. Fans just hope Shurmur becomes the third coach in the history of the franchise to lead the team to a Super Bowl, rather than having his tenure come to an end.
