New York Giants

Members of the New York Giants organization received a holiday surprise.

According to the New York Daily News, Giants head coach Joe Judge, his coaching staff and players gifted team support staff members a bonus totaling $300,000 (h/t USA Today).

The gift was reportedly spread among 70 staff members including equipment managers, nutritionists, cafeteria workers and the public relations and video departments. The Daily News reported that the previous highest Christmas bonus given to team employees before Judge getting hired was $80,000 to 30 staff members in 2019.

This year's bonuses average out to $4,285 per employee. Judge hand-delivered them to the cafeteria staff.

"The number’s astronomically high. It’s the highest it’s been on any team I’ve ever been on in my career," defensive back Logan Ryan told the Daily News. "And it’s helping a lot of people out, people who have kids, who are dealing with the stresses of COVID or whatever it may be."

Saquon Barkley will become a free agent after the 2022 season and is extension eligible, though to this point he and the New York Giants haven't agreed to one.

But Barkley told reporters on Thursday he'd love to spend his entire career with the Giants:

Barkley, 24, set the NFL world on fire as a rookie, rushing for 1,307 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 91 receptions for 721 yards and four scores. He more than lived up to expectations after being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. 

But injuries have been a major factor since. Barkley missed three games in 2019 with an ankle sprain and 14 games in 2020 with a torn ACL. This year, he missed four games because of an ankle injury. 

That Barkley hasn't been as effective since his explosive rookie season is as concerning as the injuries. That year, he averaged 126.7 yards from scrimmage per game and 0.9 touchdowns per contest. 

In the 25 games he's played across the past three seasons, however, those numbers have dipped to 88.4 yards from scrimmage per contest and 0.4 touchdowns per game, a significant regression. 

After his rookie season, Barkley seemed destined for the sort of lucrative contract extension Christian McCaffrey signed in 2020 (four years, $64 million). Now, that level of compensation is in question. 

And McCaffrey's own extension might be seen as a cautionary tale for teams contemplating lucrative extensions for running backs, seeing as how he's played in just 10 games over the past two years due to injury. The unfortunate situation for running backs is that the position has been undervalued in recent years, as more teams turn to platoons at the position. 

That's a trend that might factor into negotiations between Barkley and the Giants, though the running back has always had a huge fan in general manager Dave Gettleman. 

"Stuff happens. Not everything is perfect. There are guys all over this league that get hurt—big-time players," Gettleman told reporters in August. "He has done a great job rehabbing. I feel the same way about him: He's different."

The Philadelphia Eagles announced Wednesday that head coach Nick Sirianni tested positive for COVID-19. 

Sirianni said passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo would serve as the team's acting head coach if he's unavailable to be on the sidelines for Sunday's matchup with the New York Giants:

Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen would handle play-calling duties in Sirianni's absence, the head coach added.

In his first year as the Eagles head coach, Sirianni has led the team to a 7-7 record, keeping them firmly in the playoff chase. Currently only a tiebreaker separates the Minnesota Vikings in the final wild-card berth from the Eagles, who sit eighth in the NFC. The New Orleans Saints are also 7-7 and ninth in the conference, setting up an intriguing final three weeks. 

Here is the remaining schedule for each team:

• Vikings: Los Angeles Rams (10-4), Green Bay Packers (11-3), Chicago Bears (4-10)
• Eagles: Giants (4-10), Washington Football Team (6-8), Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
• Saints: Miami Dolphins (7-7), Carolina Panthers (5-9), Atlanta Falcons (6-8)

While the Eagles got off to a rough start under Sirianni, going 2-5 in the early going, they've gone 5-2 since. The 40-year-old adjusted to a run-heavy attack behind quarterback Jalen Hurts, one of the better offensive lines in the NFL and a running back platoon led by Miles Sanders. 

The Eagles are gashing teams on the ground, averaging an NFL-best 165.6 yards per game. That Sirianni adapted based on his personnel bodes well for his future as a head coach, even if the Eagles don't make the playoffs this season. 

With three first-round picks in the 2022 draft, more reinforcements are coming. And while there will big decisions to be made about the quarterback position and whether Hurts is the right option, the Eagles appear to be on the right track with Sirianni at the helm. 

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has been reportedly ruled out for the remainder of the season with a neck injury, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan and Adam Schefter. 

The good news is coach Joe Judge does not believe Jones will need surgery:

Jones has been bothered by injuries throughout his young career. He appeared in 13 games during his 2019 rookie season and missed two games during the 2020 campaign with hamstring and ankle injuries. 

The 24-year-old also suffered a concussion in a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, though he was cleared to return for Week 6. He also missed several games with a neck ailment. 

Jones has been rather inconsistent this season, completing 64.3 percent of his passes for 2,428 yards and 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 11 games. The Giants are 4-7 in games that he has started this season. 

When Jones is sidelined, the Giants rely on backup Mike Glennon, who has completed 53.5 percent of his passes for 673 yards and three touchdowns against seven interceptions this season. 

The Giants have struggled with Glennon under center, going 0-3 in his starts.

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard went down with an apparent leg injury on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, and the team's worst fear was confirmed after the game.

The Giants announced that Shepard suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the remainder of the season.

Shepard suffered the injury on a meaningless play with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, it was a non-contact injury, and "As soon as he stepped off the line of scrimmage he grabbed his lower left leg and fell to the ground." Shepard was visibly in pain and was taken off the field on a cart.

The Giants lost the game 21-6 and fell to 4-10. It was New York's third consecutive loss and its second loss to Dallas this season.

Shepard had two catches for 15 yards at the time of his injury. He finishes the season with 36 receptions for 366 yards and one touchdown. Shepard had already missed seven games this year with injuries to his quad, calf and both of his hamstrings.

Shepard's injury continues a nightmare run for the Giants, as injuries to skill position players have been a theme of this season. Running back Saquon Barkley; wide receivers Kadarius Toney, Kenny Golladay and Darius Slayton; and tight end Evan Engram are among the players to have missed at least two games this year for New York.

New York will look to end its skid next Sunday in another NFC East matchup on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Dallas Cowboys are still a factor in the race for the NFC's No. 1 seed.

Dallas completed its season sweep of the NFC East rival New York Giants with a 21-6 victory in Sunday's divisional showdown at MetLife Stadium. The defense led the way for the Cowboys, who improved to 10-4 on the season with their third consecutive win.

They are chasing the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the race for a first-round bye. All three of those teams entered the Week 15 slate at 10-3, although Arizona lost to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Mike Glennon threw three interceptions for the Giants, who fell to 4-10 with their third straight loss.

Notable Player Stats

• Dak Prescott, QB, DAL: 28-of-37 passing for 217 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
• Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL: 16 carries for 52 yards, 1 TD; 3 catches for 20 yards
• Dalton Schultz, TE, DAL: 8 catches for 67 yards, 1 TD
• Mike Glennon, QB, NYG: 13-of-24 passing for 99 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INTs

Dallas Offense Does Enough in Win

While the Cowboys are comfortably ahead in the NFC East, the offense was under the spotlight Sunday after owner Jerry Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan it was "probably fair" to consider Dak Prescott in something of a slump.

The quarterback threw for less than 300 yards in five of his previous six games and had two interceptions in last Sunday's win against the Washington Football Team. Fortunately for the visitors, even a so-called slumping quarterback could sit back in the pocket and pick apart New York's secondary.

Dallas seized a 15-3 halftime lead with Prescott efficiently taking what the defense gave him with a series of short throws.

Ezekiel Elliott found the end zone for the lone touchdown of the first half, and Tony Pollard showed plenty of burst when given the opportunity.

Prescott didn't do anything spectacular to flip any individual narratives about his play of late, but he didn't have to with his running backs and defense taking control of the game in the early going.

Prescott eventually notched a touchdown pass in the third quarter when he hit Dalton Schultz on a one-yard pass to create some more breathing room, although Greg Zuerlein missed his second straight extra point on the ensuing kick.

Still, Prescott threw for less than 300 yards again and lost a fumble on a sack inside his own territory when the Cowboys had an opportunity to work the clock with a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Fortunately Dallas overcame the turnover by forcing a punt and then an interception. The two-time Pro Bowler also made more than enough throws to keep the chains moving and kept his team right in the race for the NFC's top seed.

Mike Glennon Abysmal Against Strong Cowboys Defense

This lost season for the Giants became even worse when supposed franchise quarterback Daniel Jones was sidelined with a neck injury, which left Glennon under center for the third straight game.

It didn't take Glennon long to make a mistake, as he threw an interception to Jourdan Lewis on New York's first possession.

The pick was just the start of the problems for an offense that managed just three points in an ugly first half. Its only promising drive before intermission stalled in a field goal, and Saquon Barkley lost a fumble for the first time in his NFL career to set up a Cowboys field goal with 1:43 left in the second quarter.

That Cowboys fans made their presence known at MetLife Stadium only added insult to injury for a team looking to play spoiler.

Even positive things like a long fourth-down run by Devontae Booker eventually led to more frustration for the Giants when a holding penalty undercut the drive and forced a Graham Gano field goal that cut the deficit to 15-6.

Throw in a turnover on downs in their own territory that led to a Dallas touchdown and another Glennon interception, this time to Malik Hooker, and the struggles were only exacerbated.

While Sunday's version of New York's offense is the furthest thing from a juggernaut, much of the credit goes to the Dallas defense. The Hooker interception was its 11th forced turnover in the last three games for a unit that is playing at an elevated level with the playoffs approaching.

It was just a matter of time before another INT from Glennon came, and he threw his third of the game to Trevon Diggs in the end zone. It summed his day, and the Giants even switched to Jake Fromm in the final minutes.        

What's Next?

Both teams face NFC East foes in Week 16, with the Cowboys hosting the Washington Football Team and the Giants traveling to play the Philadelphia Eagles.

Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith signed with the New York Giants practice squad Friday, per Zack Rosenblatt of NJ Advance Media. 

Smith appeared in four games for the Cowboys this season before being released in October. He then signed a one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers and appeared in two games before the franchise also released him. 

The Cowboys selected Smith in the second round of the 2016 draft. In 68 career games with the franchise, he recorded nine sacks, two interceptions, 20 passes defended, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 498 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss and 15 quarterback hits.

Smith's best season came in 2019, when he recorded 2.5 sacks, one interception, nine passes defended, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 142 tackles, six tackles for a loss and three quarterback hits en route to a Pro Bowl selection. 

However, the 26-year-old fell down the Dallas depth chart this season after the Cowboys drafted standout rookie Micah Parsons and signed Keanu Neal in free agency. 

Smith has just 19 tackles through six contests this season. He hasn't appeared in an NFL game since Green Bay's Oct. 24 win over the Washington Football Team. 

The Giants are set to face the NFC East rival Cowboys on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, and Smith could technically be activated to face his former team. Big Blue's linebacker group is dealing with a flu outbreak, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.

New York is fourth in the NFC East with a 4-9 record and could use all the help it can get. However, it's unclear how Smith fits into the team's plans for the remainder of the season.