The New York football Giants head into their bye week after a 27-21 win over the Houston Texans. There is a lot to focus on this coming week, particularly on both the offensive and defensive lines. Big Blue has spent plenty of time identifying what needs fixing, but this short break provides an opportunity to focus on improvements for the rest of the season. Multiple injuries have impacted the team throughout the first half, making player health a priority in the second half and beyond. New York has plans in place, but now it's time to put them into motion. Here are the top three areas the Giants need to work on during the bye week.
Stabilizing the Rushing Attack
The running back room has been one for the Giants this season. They have been going through running backs since the season started. Head coach John Harbaugh has been watching who he wants on the field at key moments. Some of his strong ball carriers have done well, while he put others on the bench because they couldn't perform the way he wanted. Some have even been cut, such as Najee Harris, who didn’t show Harbaugh he could deliver the numbers the team needs to win.
Cam Skattebo had a breakout 124-yard season in Week Seven after he was benched in Week Six against the New Orleans Saints. Following this, Devin Singletary finished the game with a scoring touchdown in overtime. The running back room hasn't been consistent all season. They have had weeks where they completely break out, but also weeks where nobody can get the ball moving. It would be a good time for the offensive head coach to work with these running backs to ensure they can execute those plays in the upcoming games. That would give the Giants a stronger running game and a better chance to break through opponents' defensive lines and get more touchdowns on the board. They can do it; they just have to work on the schemes that will get them through.
Preparing for a Division Gauntlet
The Giants have led the NFC East for most of the season. That said, if they stay on top, New York may have a chance to slide into the playoffs and be contenders for this season. They still have several key games against the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles, and one more against the Washington Commanders this season. Harbaugh has made it clear to his team that winning these games will be crucial if they want to cement their spot at the top of the league. It has been nearly six years since Big Blue last took the lead in the division. The last time they were at the top of the division was back in 2020, but ultimately they fell to second, and Washington took the top spot. The team needs to work a little harder in every area to sustain these wins. The heart and fight are there, but the team needs to keep it up for the rest of the season.
Prioritizing Player Health and Recovery
During the Bye Week, the Giants also need to evaluate their health. Each week, they have had multiple players miss time due to injury. The most notable are Jaxson Dart, Brian Burns, and Tremaine Edmunds, among a few others. Both Skattebo and Tyrone Tracey Jr. have also shown signs of soreness from running the ball. This team has been pretty banged up through the first half of the season. This coming week, they need to rest despite getting some easy practice together. That rest will help them return feeling much better and ready to play for the rest of the season and into the 2026 Playoffs, even with a WildCard spot, if that is the case.
