The Giants’ playoff experience may be limited, but that didn’t seem to bother head coach Brian Daboll.
As New York began its week preparing for its first playoff game since 2016, Daboll was asked about the lack of playoff experience on his roster. The Giants have only one player with Super Bowl experience and a laundry list of others who are appearing in the postseason for the first time in their career.
Daboll himself has been to the playoffs on a few occasions, but felt that having playoff experience may be a tad overrated.
“I think really what you make out of it is the experience is probably overrated to be honest with you,” Daboll said. “It’s how you prepare, how you practice and ultimately how you play the game and coach the game on whatever day it is. I’ve been around a lot of different teams that have had varying levels of experience – some a lot, some a little, some not much. … I think really what matters is taking advantage of your opportunities when they come and playing a good football game and coaching a good football game”
The Giants will put that belief to the test this week as they get ready to face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. For players like Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Julian Love and Leonard Williams it will be the first time they’ve played in the postseason.
The playoff spot had been clinched following their Week 17 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but the Giants’ opponent hadn’t been decided upon until Sunday. The fact that New York is in the playoffs to begin with is surprising considering where many had anticipated the Giants finishing the year.
While Daboll viewed playoff experience as “overrated” going into Sunday’s game, he hadn’t given much thought to what it will mean for what they’re trying to build in New York.
“I haven’t even thought about it. We’re in the midst of our most important week of the season, just starting out,” Daboll said. “And I really don’t think about it at all to be honest with you. I just think you make more out of it than it really is. Experience, not experience – the most important thing is playing and coaching well.”
This week is sure to feel different around the Giants’ facility considering the stakes. At different points of the year Daboll had been asked by reporters if certain games felt like playoff games.
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His constant response was no, mainly because if they lost then they would still have games to play. That’s not the case anymore.
“Obviously, the stakes are a little different,” Daboll said. “If you lose a game, you go home. Again, every year is different. Every year that I’ve been privileged to be part of the playoffs has been different. A lot of different circumstances, different games, how many you played. And what I’ve learned is none of that really matters. What matters is how you go and play the game on Sunday.”
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