ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Tyrod Taylor has not done it all and seen it all in his decade-plus as an NFL quarterback, but he has seen and done enough to view the extreme challenges that have thus far overwhelmed the Giants this season as something other than shocking.
“No, I’m not surprised, but maybe that’s 13 years of playing professionally,’’ Taylor said. “I think the season always takes twists and turns — some for the good, some for the bad. The good teams are the ones that can endure those and be able to stay level-headed through all that and stay positive.
“That’s what you see within this locker room. A lot of positive attitudes, guys working to get things right, and obviously, get back in the winning column.’’
Getting things right and getting back into the winning column has eluded the Giants four times in their five games, and there is not much to hold onto, as far as believing anything will change in Week 6.
The national audience must be sick of seeing this team in prime time.
The Giants, playing under the lights, were steamrolled by the Cowboys, 49ers and Seahawks by a combined score of 94-15.
That will not be the actual score Sunday night, when the Giants face the Bills at Highmark Stadium, but staying close is not part of the 2023 Giants’ DNA.
The schedule thus far has been brutal, and the Giants have been brutal, making for a brutal 1-4 record that appears headed to 1-5.
The four losses have come against teams with a combined record of 15-4 and, up next, the Bills (3-2) are unquestionably included in the handful of the NFL’s top teams.
The Giants will present a different look in that Daniel Jones is out with a neck injury, and Taylor will make his first start at quarterback for a team that is in the running for the most ineffective offense in the league.
Taylor will be chucking and ducking behind an incredibly injury-ravaged offensive line that will once again be without left tackle Andrew Thomas, rookie center John Michael Schmitz and possibly right tackle Evan Neal.
The Giants do not win enough with Jones, and they almost never win without him.
They are 2-8 when Jones has been injured and not started during his time with the team.
Buckle up.
Anyone watching and thinking, “This is the absolute worst’’ when the Giants’ offense is on the field should be heartened to know their eyes are not deceiving them. There are 32 teams in the league, and the Giants are at or near the bottom in every meaningful offensive category.
They are 31st in scoring at 12.4 points a game (the Jets are last at 11 points a game).
They are 32nd in total yards per game (255.2).
They are 31st in passing yards at 163 per game (the Jets are 32nd at 160).
The Giants are 23rd in rushing yards at 92.2 yards per game, but that less-than mediocre ranking is deceptive, as it is fueled by Jones’ running — often more out of desperation than inspiration.
With Saquon Barkley missing the past three games with a high ankle sprain (and questionable to return for this game), Jones has become the de facto top running option, and he leads the team in attempts (38) and yards (197).
Without Barkley’s legs in the equation, the Giants’ running back trio of Matt Breida, Eric Gray and Gary Brightwell is averaging 2.5 yards per rushing attempt.
And now, Taylor, a 34-year-old journeyman with a career starting record of 26-25-1, is tasked with trying to make something out of what has been next to nothing.
Taylor’s only extended run as a full-time starter was a three-year stretch with the Bills (2015-17), when he went 22-20.
He knows all about the Western New York welcoming committee he and his Giants teammates will confront.
The Bills are coming off a surprising 25-20 loss to the Jaguars in London, so the players and the Bills Mafia will all be on high alert.
“For sure, it’s going to be an electric atmosphere,’’ Taylor said. “Obviously, their fan base is one of the wilder ones, I guess they’ve been labeled as it. They create a great environment for football. As a player, I think you live for these types of environments and these types of moments.’’