The New York Giants exceeded all expectations in 2022. And despite going 9-7-1 and making the playoffs in Brian Daboll’s first season as the head coach, the G-Men are flying under the radar yet again. Unfortunately, that’s going to be the case when you play in the same division as the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, but New York doesn’t particularly seem to mind.
Kayvon Thibodeaux acknowledged as such during a recent appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. The second-year pass-rusher hasn’t shied away from the spotlight nor the expectations that come with playing in New York, as he’s grown into being the face of the team’s defense.
After knocking off the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card round, the Giants met the Eagles in the divisional round. It didn’t go exactly as planned, with the Eagles handing the Giants a 38-7 loss. The Eagles then were just a couple of plays away from capturing another Super Bowl trophy and have since been talked up as the Super Bowl favorites in 2023.
Thibodeaux has had to watch from afar, as the Eagles have dominated the NFL media cycle. He was asked by NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt what it means to see the hype surrounding the Eagles, considering the Giants drafted him, in part, to help beat Philadelphia.
“I mean, it’s been good for me. I like to lay low,” Thibodeaux said. “I’m happy that people are counting us out, cause that gives us more time to just work. We don’t have to answer those questions, we don’t have to worry about everybody looking at us. We can just keep our head down and grind. And I think you know, we love being the underdogs, cause that always gives us that story, that momentum to really work and really go after what we want.”
It’ll be interesting to see if the Giants, who have made some notable moves this offseason, can improve their record against the Eagles in 2023. In any event, Thibodeaux and his teammates certainly like the fact that they’ll be able to play the “underdog” role for another season.
