Last season, the NY Giants came up one game shy of winning the NFC East, with an improved division, here’s how New York beats each of its rivals in 2021
The NY Giants had the misfortune of having the NFL season expanded from 16 to 17 games this offseason.
Obviously, this affects the league’s 31 other franchises, but for the Giants–and all of their NFC East rivals–having conference games hold less weight on where teams land in the standings that aren’t a good thing.
Not a single NFC East team finished the 2020 season with a winning record. In 2021, the extra game will mean foraying into the AFC East to take on a Miami Dolphins team that finished with six wins and could take another step forward if Tua Tagovailoa can avoid a sophomore slump in year two. In a normal season, all of the games against the AFC West and NFC South would remain intact.
The Giants will still have to contend with their division six times, though, meaning the key to nabbing a postseason spot will still require them to figure out their main historical rivals.
Today, we’ll to take a stab at just how the NY Giants can beat the Washington Football Team, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles in 2021:
Key to NY Giants beating Washington Football Team: Contain Antonio Gibson
“Fitzmagic” is coming to town in 2021, but journeyman QB Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t who the NY Giants need to be staying up all night worrying about as the upcoming campaign draws nearer.
Instead, second-year running back Antonio Gibson is the weapon that has experts foreseeing a breakout.
Just look at what Matthew Berry had to say about his 2021 outlook:
"“I was asked to pick a breakout player, somebody that’ll take a significant leap this year, and I went with Antonio Gibson of the Washington Football Team…Remember, this is a kid who came into the pros having only had 33 carries in college ever. But he proved last year he could be a running back in the NFL.”"
Considering the NY Giants’ offense was able to put up multiple scores each game against WFT last season, containing Gibson is likely the best way to make sure their matchups remain close.
Last season, the NY Giants’ defensive front held Gibson to 50 yards total in New York’s two inter-division victories over Washington in 2020.