Considering they compete for fans in the same market and play in the same stadium, many might figure that the New York Jets and New York Giants consider themselves rivals.
But according to Jets star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, that isn’t necessarily the case.
“It’s cool to be in the same city as them and play against them, but the reality is that we root for them, except for when they’re playing us,” the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year told reporters on Friday, two days ahead of the Week 8 matchup between New York’s two teams. “We know a lot of those guys, we see them around town and this will be a cool experience. We’ll go at it for three hours and be able to chop it up after.
“It’s not a rivalry,” he added. “For our fans, we want to give them the bragging rights. But I wouldn’t say it’s a rivalry.”
Garrett Wilson doesn't view Jets-Giants as a rivalry:
"We root for them, except for when they're playing us" pic.twitter.com/qEjisOUycn
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 27, 2023
To Wilson’s point, the Jets and Giants have only played each other a total of 14 times, the last of which came in 2019. The Jets have won each of the last two battles of New York, ending a streak that saw the Giants win five consecutive matchups from 1996-2011.
With the NFL scheduling format dictating that they only play every four years, it’s hard for the two franchises to build any semblance of consistent animosity against each other. For what it’s worth, the Jets enter this Sunday’s contest as a three-point favorite, with Giants backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor set to get the start for an injured Daniel Jones.
[SNY Jets]
