Giants searching for motivation after playoff elimination

The Giants have reached irrelevant status.

After their 24-6 loss to the Saints on Sunday, they have just a 1 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to The Upshot’s simulator.

They entered the game with a 2 percent chance in the simulator, so it’s not like it was realistic beforehand, either.

But the Giants were riding a three-game win streak and playing their best football of the year, finally seeming to put things together after a dreadful start to the season.

Tommy DeVito’s improbable rise energized the team, and it played with a spark that had previously been missing.

But now with their faint playoff hopes all but dead and DeVito coming back down to Earth, there is little to play for and little externally to motivate them for the final three games — two against the Eagles sandwiched around the Rams.

“It’s definitely difficult,” linebacker Micah McFadden said Monday on a Zoom call. “I don’t think anybody in this building thought we’d be where we are at this point. But as far as motivation, we’re process-driven here. We stick to what we do each week and that’s just focusing on winning one game at a time.”

The Eagles at least offer something to be amped up for, considering the Giants’ rival beat them three times last year punctuated by a 38-7 walloping in the NFC Divisional Round.

The Giants have not won at Lincoln Financial Field, where Sunday’s clash will be, since 2013.

“Whenever you get knocked out of the playoffs like that — obviously, we don’t think about the past too much, kind of focus on what’s ahead of us, but that definitely stung a little bit to get knocked out by a team in your division,” McFadden said.

Sunday’s loss brought the Giants’ season-long offensive woes back to the forefront.

It marked the fifth time this season they did not score a touchdown on offense, and it was the fifth time they did not reach 200 total yards as well.

It was the fourth game in which they did not score in the second half.

Though he returned, DeVito was checked for a concussion during the game after his head smacked off the ground on a hit.

He also appeared to grab his leg after taking a sack late in the game.

Head coach Brian Daboll said Monday that DeVito is sore but fine.

Daboll was asked why he immediately named DeVito the starter for the Philadelphia clash despite his rough performance instead of waiting further into the week to evaluate.

“He’s earned it,” Daboll said. “I’m not going to make a week-to-week change. He’s earned it. It’s not always going to be perfect, but he’s earned the opportunity to play.”

Daboll did not have any updates about Randy Bullock’s hamstring injury. Bullock made a 56-yard field goal on the opening drive and then sustained the injury on the ensuing kickoff.

Punter Jamie Gillan kicked a 40-yard field goal successfully, and Daboll said they would have trusted him again if the opportunity arose.

Cade York would likely be signed off the practice squad if Bullock isn’t ready to go against the Eagles.