The 2023 New York Giants Offense—Stuck in Neutral

 By John Turney 

Through eight games in 2023, the New York Giants have scored 95 points. That is an average of 11.9 points per game. 

Eleven point nine.

That is the lowest average per game since 1940 and it's tied for ninth-worst in franchise history. All eight Giants teams with a lower PPG played from 1925 (the team's inaugural season) through 1937. 

The 1929 Giants scored more than the current iteration of the Giants offense. That was the year Benny Friedman (unofficially) threw for 20 touchdowns -- a mark Daniel Jones has not surpassed since his rookie season. 

It's astonishing that in the 21st century, with all the rule changes and points of emphasis that are advantageous to scoring that have been implemented, there can be offenses this unproductive. 

But there have been.   

Since the major rule changes that occurred in 1978, there have been ten teams with a lower point per game average than this year's Giants. The last was the 2009 St. Louis Rams and the lowest (8.8) was the 1992 Seattle Seahawks -- so there have been worse.

Not by much, though.

It's not a lack of talent that can be the culprit. The Giants have former first-round picks Jones, running back Saquon Barkley, tackles Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal on the roster. 

They probably do lack elite talent at wide receiver but 11.9 PPG? Really?

Here are the bottom twenty Giants scoring (totals include any defensive and special teams scores) teams since 1925 when the franchise joined the NFL—

The legendary Jim Thorpe played for the 1925 Giants that scored 10.2 points a game. However, it was fifth best (out of 20 teams), not last. In other words, they were at least decent for the era.

It's not decent for Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. It's less than good. Nightmarish, even.

The irony is not lost on Kafka's surname.

To wit. From Google Dictionary—

Kaf·ka·esque

adjective

characteristic or reminiscent of the oppressive or nightmarish qualities of Franz Kafka's fictional world.

Yep. Only this nightmare is not fiction. It's real for fans who sit through games at MetLife Stadium or who stream or watch. 

Jim Thorpe 

Hall-of-Fame tailback Benny Friedman's 1929 Giants team scored 20.8 points per game. His 1930 offense scored an average of 18.1 points. Both dwarf what the 2023 Giants are doing.

Benny Friedman

Harry Newman,  Bo Molenda,  Ken Strong and Dale Barnet (pictured) were together in the Giants' backfield from 1933-35. In 1933 they averaged more points a game than the current Giants have with nine games to go.

Bo Molenda, Dale Barnet, Ken Strong, and Harry Newman in 1933

The 1976 Giants with Craig Morton and Larry Csonka were more efficient than 2023's.

Larry Csonka and Craig Morton
The 1976 Giants scored 12.1 PPG

Certainly, sharing a list with teams that played 98, 90 or 80 years ago is not where you want to be.  Midseason (or does nine games mark midseason?) does not a season make. 

There is time for them to ship and pour on some points. They are capable. Last year they averaged 21.5 per game, good enough to be tied for 15th in the NFL -- middle of the pack rather than last. 

It was enough for them to go 9-7-1 and make the playoffs in head coach Brian Daboll's first season in the Big Apple. 

They will need to get a move on however or they will have to face the dubious distinction of having the production of a 1920s NFL team. 

Eleven point nine.

Ouch.