New York Giants 2016 Schedule Announced, Big Blue Will Go 14-2 With Homefield Advantage In The Playoffs
By Neal Lynch
Week 13: Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, December 4th at 4:30 p.m. (CBS)
The Giants last played in Pittsburgh on Oct. 26, 2008, when they defeated the Steelers, 21-14. John Carney kicked three field goals and Kevin Boss hauled in a touchdown pass. The defense picked off Ben Roethlisberger four times.
Since 1971, the Giants are 2-0 in Pittsburgh. With that elite receiving corps, the return of Le’Veon Bell, and the addition of tight end Ladarius Green, the Giants defense will have their hands full. It will most likely come down to Big Blue’s offense to keep the team in the game. This loss will bolster the team for the postseason.
PREDICTION: LOSS (10-2)
Week 14: Giants vs. Cowboys
Sunday, December 11th at 8:30pm (NBC)
Last season, the division rivals met in MetLife Stadium on October 25th and former Cowboy Dwayne Harris’ returned a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Giants a 27-20 victory.
The Giants have swept the season series 12 times, most recently in 2011, while Dallas has 20 series sweeps, including 2013-14. The Cowboys are 4-2 vs. the Giants in MetLife Stadium.
For some reason, I see Tony Romo’s career will be over thanks to another broken collarbone and this game will be flexed to earlier in the day to make way for a more interesting matchup. If Romo doesn’t get hurt, though, I expect to see a valiant effort in a hard-fought loss.
PREDICTION: WIN (11-2)
Week 15: Giants vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, December 18th at 1 p.m. (FOX)
The teams last faced each other in MetLife Stadium on Oct. 17, 2010, when the Giants defeated Detroit, 28-20. The G-Men are 5-3 against the Lions at home since moving to East Rutherford, but after winning four straight to being the series in NJ, Big Blue has gone 1-3 with that lone win from 2008 to their credit.
Detroit could very well be a disaster this season after Calvin Johnson announced his retirement. They were able to sign former Bengals free agent Marvin Jones and signed inside linebacker Tahir Whitehead to an extension in addition to bringing on former Giants guard Geoff Schwartz.
Initially, I don’t expect this to be close, but the Giants have a funny way of playing down to their opponents, so I wouldn’t be shocked if the Lions surprise some people with an early or extended lead, before New York wakes up and takes care of business.
PREDICTION: WIN (12-2)
Week 16: Giants at Eagles
Thursday, Dec. 22, 8:25 p.m.
For the second consecutive season, Philly swept the season series. While the second game in last season’s set was more of an exhibition in an effort to save Tom Coughlin’s job, the first at Lincoln got off to such a great start and not much else.
The division rivals split their series in 2011, ’12 and ’13, their longest such streak since they split in four consecutive seasons from 1952-55. In the last 30 years, the Eagles have 13 series sweeps, while the Giants have 11. The Giants are 6-7 in the regular season and 0-1 in postseason play in Lincoln Financial Field.
So, the odds are against the Giants, however, with the division crown on the line and the chance to possibly eliminate the Eagles from postseason contention, there’s no way Big Blue phones this one in. Not after all the humiliation suffered over the past four seasons.
PREDICTION: WIN (13-2)
Week 17: Giants at Redskins
Sunday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m.
Happy New Year, New York Giants fans! Your team just clinched home-field advantage through the playoffs. Hard to believe? Well, on paper, maybe. Looking back on the last three losing seasons, going 14-2 seems like a pipedream, but given the five blown wins last season and the infusion of new talent plus the possibility of six more talented prospects joining the locker room after the draft, plus THIS schedule, it’s not that distant of a reality.
Sure, maybe the Giants have already clinched homefield and will decide to rest their starters, but if history has shown anything, it’s that December’s momentum can carry into January jubilation.
PREDICTION: WIN (14-2)
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CONCLUSION:
I’m sure many will look at 14-2 and scoff. Neal’s off his meds. Well, at worst, the Giants could falter and stumble to a 10-6 record and barely miss the postseason on a tiebreaker. However, realistically, fans should look forward to at least 12 wins and the first trip to the playoffs since January 2012.