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3 Games that will define the NY Giants’ 2021 season

By Andrew Hughes

New Orleans Saints cornerback Ken Crawley (20) nearly picks off a pass intended for NY Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) in the second half. The New Orleans Saints defeat the New York Giants 33-18 on Sunday, September 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, NJ.
New Orleans Saints cornerback Ken Crawley (20) nearly picks off a pass intended for NY Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) in the second half. The New Orleans Saints defeat the New York Giants 33-18 on Sunday, September 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, NJ. /
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Expectations for the NY Giants are higher entering the 2021 campaign than they have been in the recent past, can New York meet or exceed them? 

The upcoming 2021 NFL season is one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory for NY Giants fans for a couple of different reasons.

Number one is all of the meaningful returns.

The Giants will welcome back Saquon Barkley to the fold after a year missed due to a torn ACL, but (slightly) more excitingly, all 32 NFL teams will welcome fans back into the stands (as things stand).

Then there are the debuts.

Kenny Golladay is the biggest, but Kadarius Toney’s first season is one many will be watching closely as the first-year former Florida Gator brings a versatile background as an ambiguous athlete that morphed into a star slot receiver after experimenting with taking handoffs at RB in Gainesville. His big-play potential is limitless.

Defensively, a few rookies (Azeez Ojulari, Aaron Robinson) and free-agent signings (Adoree’ Jackson, Ifeadi Odenigbo) will be battling each other for reps. The competition could raise the bar for all involved.

With Daniel Jones entering year three with the most talented he’s ever played with, it’s put up or shut up in 2021.

These three games will define the NY Giants’ 2021 season more than any other:

Game #1 set to define the NY Giants’ season: Week 4 vs. New Orleans Saints

Whether it’s Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill (or both) that is starting under center for the Saints down in the Big Easy during Week 4, the NY Giants need to be able to prepare for a massive defensive test in Alvin Kamara.

Kamara was second only to Derrick Henry in rushing TDs (16) in 2020, averaging over a score per game. The NY Giants will find out who is battle-tested along the goal line among their new additions when they’re down on the Bayou.

Not only that, but Jones will be facing a Saints secondary that was tied for the most INTs last season.

This could be a litmus test against an NFC elite if NY is 3-0 coming in, a keep-pace game if they start off 2-1 or 1-2, or a knockout blow to Jones’ chances to be the franchise QB if they are 0-3 and get decimated on the road in Week 4.

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