The New York Giants 2019 regular season schedule has been released and it’s filled with challenges and games that some might consider “easy.” However, if we’ve learned anything from the past two years of mediocrity, there’s no such thing as an easy NFL game, but nonetheless, we are going to take a look at which ones ‘should’ be for the Giants.
Taking a look at the New York Giants schedule:
- Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys (Sept. 8, 4:25 p.m.)
- Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills (Sept. 15, 1:00 p.m.)
- Week 3: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sept. 22, 4:05 p.m.)
- Week 4: vs. Washington Redskins (Sept. 29, 1:00 p.m.)
- Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m.)
- Week 6: at New England Patriots (Oct. 10, 8:20 p.m.)
- Week 7: vs. Arizona Cardinals (Oct. 20, 1:00 p.m.)
- Week 8: at Detroit Lions (Oct. 27, 1:00 p.m.)
- Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Nov. 4, 8:15 p.m.)
- Week 10: at New York Jets (Nov. 10, 1:00 p.m.)
- Week 11: BYE
- Week 12: at Chicago Bears (Nov. 24, 1:00 p.m.)*
- Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers (Dec. 1, 1:00 p.m.)*
- Week 14: at Philadelphia Eagles (Dec. 9, 8:15 p.m.)*
- Week 15: vs. Miami Dolphins (Dec. 15, 1:00 p.m.)*
- Week 16: at Washington Redskins (Dec. 22, 1:00 p.m.)*
- Week 17: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Dec. 29, 1:00 p.m.)*
After a disappointing 2018 campaign that saw the Giants to a 5-11 record, offseason changes were made to ensure the team continues to develop and doesn’t backtrack. Trading Odell Beckham Jr. likely wasn’t the start everyone had imagined, but the Giants do have two first-round draft picks and a ton of capital to begin filling holes with youth players.
Additionally, the team will have over $80 million in cap to spend next season. Looking at the schedule, we can immediately say that week 1 will be difficult, especially playing in Dallas. Weeks 2-3 should represent a solid opportunity to grab wins early on in the season – playing against the Bills and Buccaneers respectively. Their 2018 records were 6-10 and 5-11.
Next up on the docket is the Washington Redskins, Landon Collins’ new team, so they surely deserve a can of whoop ass opened on them. This should be a test for the Giants against a rising division rival, but being at home will give them the upper hand.
Skipping two tough matchups against the Vikings and Patriots, we find ourselves at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Who knows, maybe Josh Rosen will be on Big Blue by then, but most likely not. This will be a solid test for the Giants who need to put lesser teams away, they cannot let Arizona sneak past them, being that they have more holes on the offensive line than the Giants did when Ereck Flowers was acting as a turnstile at left tackle.
Facing off against the Lions in Detroit will be a test, but a very winnable game. The Lions have featured an inconsistent offensive line and unstable defense. Matthew Stafford fluctuates from Pro Bowl level talent to high school level on a weekly basis, so the Giants can easily rattle him with a decent display from the pass rushers.
The Cowboys and Jets will prove to be difficult games, especially with LeVeon Bell and CJ Mosley signing with the Jets this past offseason. The next ‘easy’ game is against the Miami Dolphins who are also in relative quarterback purgatory, and the Redskins in week 16. These are two very winnable games given the team has come together and no injuries have occurred to any playmakers (knock on wood). The Dolphins have Ryan Fitzmagic who is about as inconsistent as Eli Manning being chased by a pack of wild geese.
All in all, the Giants could walk away with seven wins from the more inadequate football teams on the schedule. Given they manage to win some more prime matchups, 2019 could shape up to be a decent one.