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NY Giants schedule release: Top 5 best games to watch

By Danny Friedman

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 20: The New York Giants take the field before the first quarter of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on October 20, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 20: The New York Giants take the field before the first quarter of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on October 20, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Bud Dupree #48 of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
Bud Dupree #48 of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Game #1: Week 1, Giants vs Steelers, 7:15 pm (MNF)

The NY Giants kick off their 2020 season on ESPN’s Monday Night Football for the first time since 2014. It is also the Giants’ first home opener on Monday night since beating the Rams in Week 2 of the 2011 Super Bowl season.

The Steelers are coming off two straight seasons without making the playoffs with their aging 38-year-old quarterback missing 14 games last year.

The Steelers will be led again by a returning Ben Roethlisberger who will always have a tie to the Giants’ past as he was nearly Big Blue’s quarterback if they hadn’t pulled off the 2004 Draft Day trade with the Chargers to get Eli Manning. Big Ben is protected by two veteran Pro Bowlers up front, David DeCastro at guard and Maurkice Pouncey at center.

The Steelers also have three former Pro Bowlers at skill positions with Juju Smith-Schuster, a dangerous threat from both the slot and outside receiver positions along with James Conner, who is a do-it-all back, and Eric Ebron, who’s a talented playmaker at tight end as well. Altogether, this is a potent and dangerous group with the ability to be one of the NFL’s most balanced offenses.

On defense, the Steelers have two great pass-rushing linebackers in budding superstar TJ Watt and Bud Dupree. Alongside the All-Pro Cameron Heyward, this unit can swarm the pocket from all gaps. Andrew Thomas will be tested with big threats off the edge to start his NFL career.

The Steelers secondary is anchored by the All-Pro safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick who will be a menace to Daniel Jones and the entire Giants’ offense.

The NY Giants only won two Week 1 games during the last decade and it’s essential they win this primetime game if they want to get off to a good start to this season.

If the Giants want to compete for the playoffs this year, starting the season with a statement win in front of a national audience will be a huge confidence boost for the entire organization.

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