New York Giants 2016 Schedule Announced, Big Blue Will Go 14-2 With Homefield Advantage In The Playoffs
By Neal Lynch
The NFL announced the 2016 regular season schedule and the New York Giants schedule should land them in the playoffs for the first time five years.
From what the experts have been saying, Big Blue doesn’t have one of the toughest or one of the easiest schedules in the league. We already knew the opponents when they were announced back in early January; the G-Men would host the Ravens, Bears, Bengals, Lions, and Saints while traveling to Green Bay, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, London to play the Los Angeles Rams, and Cleveland.
Back then, before the historic free agency binge and this schedule was unveiled, I had the Giants going 8-8 with a possible Wild Card berth. After all the major offseason moves, ESPN’s Dan Graziano has the G-Men going 8-8, which is just nuts. Once you’re done fuming, find out how the new free agent acquisitions and schedule affect my predictions…
Week 1: Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, September 11th, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Another season-opener against the Cowboys. I’d yawn and give a ‘ho-hum’, but every single opener between the two division rivals has been entertaining the whole way through. It seems like only yesterday when Eli Manning owned “Amercia’s Team” at Jerry World, but Big Blue’s gone 0-3 since 2012 at AT&T Stadium, losing by 1, 5, and 10 points from most to least recent in that time. Despite the recent slump, their record in Dallas’ new digs is still better than their overall record in the Big D, where they were 15-31 prior to the venue upgrade.
In the 2015 season opener, the Giants faced the division favorite Cowboy led by Tony Romo and took it to them. Not many predicted Big Blue would’ve been in the game in the waning minutes, much less lead. This time around, the G-Men shouldn’t have to worry about Uani Unga having to cover Jason Witten. With all the huge additions on defense, plus another training camp in Ben McAdoo’s offense, plus lessons learned from the clock mismanagement fiasco should equal a Giants victory.
PREDICTION: WIN (1-0)
Week 2: Giants vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, September 18th at 1 p.m. (FOX)
The last time the Saints came to East Rutherford, New Jersey to play the Giants was 2012 when running back and return specialist David Wilson had the best game of his very short career. How much has changed since four years ago – gone are Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and countless others. The only mainstay has been Eli Manning. Hakeem Nicks is now a free agent. Victor Cruz might never be the same. Steve Spagnuolo was the New Orleans defensive coordinator. Giants.com offered up some interesting facts:
"The Giants and Saints will resume what has become the NFL’s highest-scoring series. The winning team in the last four Giants-Saints games scored 48, 49, 52 and 52 points. It is the first time in NFL history two teams played four consecutive games in which the winner scored at least 48 points."
The Giants are 11-4 against the Saints at home, 4-9 in New Orleans. Drew Brees is another year older and the team was unable to make any really big moves in free agency due to cap restrictions, landing tight end Coby Fleener, linebacker James Laurinaitis, and defensive tackle Nick Fairley. Even though there are new faces flying around, this could be a repeat of 2012.
PREDICTION: WIN (2-0)
Week 3: Giants vs. Washington Redskins
Sunday, September 25th at 1 p.m. (FOX)
When Washington visited the Giants at MetLife last season, starting running back Rashad Jennings blocked a punt and Dwayne Harris returned a kickoff for a game-clinching touchdown. Eli Manning also added a couple touchdown passes to Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle. The Giants have faced the Redskins 166 times in the regular season since their first game in 1932, making this their most frequently-contested rivalry. The Giants are 5-1 vs. Washington in MetLife, the lone loss came during the 2011 Super Bowl championship season, in which the ‘Skins swept Big Blue.
Despite winning the division last season, does anyone take them seriously as contenders this season? They franchise tagged Kirk Cousins after a stellar season against subpar opponents, let Robert Griffin III go, and their big free agent signing was strong safety David Bruton. They also signed tight end Vernon Davis who hasn’t done much in years.
PREDICTION: WIN (3-0)
Week 4: Giants at Minnesota Vikings
Monday, October 3rd at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
This has to be a revenge game for the G-Men. They were thoroughly embarrassed on a very cold night at the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers field. The 49-17 loss was New York’s first outdoor game in Minnesota since 1976, which was also the first season played in Giants Stadium. This season, the Giants will play for the first time in the Vikings’ new domed home, U.S. Bank Stadium. This is the Giants’ first visit to Minnesota in back-to-back seasons since 2008-09. Big Blue is 4-7 on the road at Minnesota. I foresee a much a more competitive contest this go ’round as Odell Beckham, Jr. should be able to maintain his composure the week prior so he can suit up and put on a show.
PREDICTION: WIN (4-0)
Next: SECOND QUARTER