The New York Giants were not expected to make the playoffs this 2020 season, yet they still have an outside shot of shockingly making it. Just that fact is already pretty shocking, after starting out the season with five straight defeats. While making the playoffs should be on their radar, head coach Joe Judge isn't making it their barometer for success this season and remains focused on their long-term goal.

Via Jordan Raanan of ESPN:

“I don't think our progress as a team is going to be measured necessarily on making the playoffs … I'm not downplaying playoffs. It's the National Football League. We're all here to compete. We're all here for the highest prize in all of sports. We all know what that is,” Judge said. “I'm a firm believer in just keeping our sights on what the immediate goal is and the long-term goal will take care of itself.”

Getting that postseason experience will certainly be beneficial for New York. Nonetheless, it's hard to fault the first-year coach for taking little steps in the hopes of eventually reaching their ultimate goal of winning a championship.

As mentioned, the Giants started their campaign 0-5 and stood at 1-7 through eight games into the season. They eventually rattled four straight wins and even found themselves atop the weak NFC East at some point. However, two straight defeats later, and they're now fighting for a spot in the postseason.

New York still does have a chance to sneak into the playoffs, but their destiny is out of their control. Of course, the Giants need to take care of business and win their final two outings against the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys, whom they share an identical 5-9 mark with. However, they would also need their other division rivals to lose in order to win the division.

Whatever the outcome of this season will be for the Giants, Judge should still see it as a step in the right direction.