EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – We don't know if the Giants will defeat the Washington Football Team Sunday for their second victory of the season, but it's reasonable to assume we won't know the winner until the fourth quarter – or later.
But that result shouldn't require a recount.
The Giants have made close games a staple of their season. Only one of their first eight games was decided by more than 10 points (a 36-9 loss to San Francisco) and just two had a double-digit margin (including a 26-16 loss to Pittsburgh on opening night). Their other six games were all one-possession affairs in which the trailing team had a chance to win or tie late in the fourth quarter. That is tied with Cincinnati, Carolina and the Los Angeles Chargers for the NFL's second-highest total, behind Chicago (seven).
The trend has been pronounced in the last four games – a victory against Washington and losses to Dallas, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay - in which the margins of victory were three, one, one and two points. It is the first time in their history the Giants have played four consecutive games that were decided by a total of seven or fewer points.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last NFL team to play four games decided by a total of seven or fewer points was the 1990 Denver Broncos, who, in a four-week span, played three one-point games and one three-pointer.
The Giants join the Chargers and Tennessee Titans as the only teams to play four games in which the final margin was three or fewer points.
In the Giants' last three games, four total points separated the teams. The most recent of those contests was the Giants' 25-23 loss Monday night to Tampa Bay. It's the first time the Giants have played three straight games that were decided by a total of four or fewer points since Sept. 23-Oct. 7, 1973 (a 23-23 tie with Philadelphia and two-point losses to Cleveland and Green Bay).
The most recent NFL team to have such a small three-game margin was the 2013 Dallas Cowboys, who were coached by current Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. In its last three games, that Dallas team had a one-point victory and one and two-point losses.
The Giants' last three losses - to the Cowboys, Eagles and Buccaneers – have been by a total of six points. They had not suffered three consecutive defeats by such a small combined margin since Nov. 17-Dec. 1, 1974, when they fell, symmetrically, by one, two and three points to Dallas, St. Louis and Chicago
The 2013 Detroit Lions were the last NFL team to lose three straight games by a total of no more than six points. Those Lions lost their final three games by two, three and one point – the second of those three contests was a 23-20 overtime loss to the Giants in Ford Field.
View photos from the Week 8 Monday night matchup between the Giants and Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium.
New York Giants' Wayne Gallman runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, center, gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Wayne Gallman runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Darnay Holmes (30) jumps on a loose ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Sterling Shepard runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Sterling Shepard runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Dion Lewis (33) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) celebrates scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) celebrates scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) celebrates scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) celebrates scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano, right, kicks an extra point during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) recovers a fumble during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) celebrates after picking up a fumble during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants defense bring down Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette (28) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants head coach Joe Judge on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (28) is brought down during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) celebrates with quarterback Daniel Jones (8) after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants defense tries to stop Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' James Bradberry, right, knocks away a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' James Bradberry, right, knocks away a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) in action during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett (58) chases down New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) in action during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) is sacked during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) is sacked during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants' Leonard Williams, right, sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants' Leonard Williams, right, celebrates after sacking Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants' Wayne Gallman (22), bottom, scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants' Wayne Gallman (22), center, celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (28) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) in action during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) scores a touchdown in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White (45) during an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants' Wayne Gallman, center, celebrates his touchdown with Evan Engram, left, and Golden Tate during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants' Sterling Shepard, left, runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws under pressure during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws under pressure during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants' Evan Engram, right, fends off Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Lavonte David during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) dives with the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) runs for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) dives with the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette (28), center, is upended by New York Giants defense during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants cornerback James Bradberry (24) and cornerback Julian Love (20) bring down Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) looks to throw during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) looks to throw during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants' Dion Lewis, center, returns the ball after a kick-off during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Evan Engram tries to stay in-bounds after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants' Kaden Smith carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8), center, looks to throw during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Jabrill Peppers, left, breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Scott Miller during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants safety Jabrill Peppers (21) breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Scott Miller (10) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
New York Giants head coach Joe Judge on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) is brought down during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, November 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mikey Owens/NFL)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Devin White, right, grabs New York Giants' Darius Slayton during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12), center, is tackled during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants' Golden Tate, right, catches a touchdown in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Sean Murphy-Bunting during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants' Golden Tate catches a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
*Daniel Jones can improve his record as a starting quarterback against Washington to 4-0 when the teams meet Sunday in FedExField. The last Giants quarterback with such a successful four-game start against an NFC East opponent was Kent Graham, who was 4-0 against Philadelphia in 1998-99.
*In each of their last three games, the Giants rushed for more than 100 yards while holding their opponents under 100. That last happened from Nov. 14-27, 2016, in victories against Cincinnati, Chicago and Cleveland.
*The Giants reached midseason with 20 sacks. If they maintain that pace, they will finish with their highest sack total since 2014, when they had 47. Jason Pierre-Paul led that team with 12.5.
*The NFC East has been widely criticized this season, no surprise when the four teams have a combined record of 8-22-1. Not one team in the division is over .500. One culprit is turnovers. The combined four-team turnover differential is minus-24. Washington is the best of the group…at minus-one. Dallas has a league-worst differential at minus-11, Philadelphia is tied for second at minus-seven and the Giants are at minus-five. The four division teams have 36 takeaways against 60 giveaways, an unsightly ratio of minus-24.
*Each of the Giants' next two opponents – Washington and Philadelphia - will be coming off their bye. Since 1990, the Giants are 12-10 when their opponents are coming off a bye and they are not.
*Not only will Washington have had a two-week break, the Giants must travel after playing on Monday night. The Giants are 32-36 in games following a Monday night game, including 13-15 since 2000.
*The Giants' last two defeats to Tampa Bay – on Oct. 1, 2017 and Monday night, were by the same 25-23 score. They are the only 25-23 results in the 1,394-game history of the Giants (including postseason play).
*The Giants had their highest yardage and first down totals of the season against the Buccaneers.
Their 357 yards topped the 325 yards they gained in their previous game, in Philadelphia. The Giants finished with less than 300 yards in each of their first four games but have topped the 300-yard mark in three of their last four.
*The Giants' 24 first downs vs. Tampa Bay topped their previous season best of 22, set at Chicago on Sept. 22.
*The Buccaneers were held to two field goals in the first half, the first time since Dec. 9, 2019 in Philadelphia they did not allow a touchdown in the first two quarters.
*Sterling Shepard's game-high eight receptions on Monday increased his career total to 269. That moved him past Mark Bavaro (266) and into 13th place on the Giants' career list.
*Shepard increased his career yardage total to 3,071. He is the 21st player to exceed 3,000 receiving yards in a Giants uniform.
*The Giants were today awarded wide receiver Dante Pettis off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers, who released him yesterday.
The team has received a roster exemption from the NFL while Pettis is in the six-day Covid-19 protocol. He will likely be formally added to the roster on Monday or Tuesday.
Pettis played in 28 games with 12 starts in three seasons with the 49ers. His career totals are 38 receptions for 576 yards and seven touchdowns.
This season, Pettis played in five games with a start in the season opener against Arizona. He played eight snaps on offense and five on special teams against the Giants two weeks later. Pettis did not have a reception this season.
Pettis joined the 49ers as a 2018 second-round draft choice, from the University of Washington.
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