Forget everything you thought you knew about the New York Giants' schedule heading into 2025. Forget that the G-Men were at one point entering the season with the toughest strength of schedule. Move on. Because Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys just manipulated the Giants' schedule in more ways than one.
Oh no, Jerry couldn't figure out how to move past a supposed handshake agreement with one of the most polarizing football players on the planet, so he had to trade him to the Packers. Ugh. Bummer. I hate it when that happens (**Matt secretly does cartwheels and throws a mental parade**). With Micah Parsons now out of the division, Big Blue will no longer have to play the four-time Pro Bowler twice a year. While that was already objectively awesome, what's even cooler is the effect it has on New York's 2025 outlook.
According to numbers guru Aaron Schatz, the Giants no longer hold the position for 2025's toughest strength of schedule. They have now been bested by the Bears and Lions, meaning the sky is the absolute limit for this football team.
Here's an interesting change from the Micah Parsons trade.
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) August 29, 2025
Detroit and Chicago now move ahead of the New York Giants for the toughest projected schedule by average DVOA of opponents.
SF still the easiest.
Full DVOA projection update with new playoff odds coming Sept 3.
New York Giants catch even bigger break than expected after Micah Parsons trade
There's no denying that when the schedule initially came out, there was some catastrophic meltd... slight panic. A team coming off a terrible 3-14 season, walking into the toughest schedule the upcoming year was a recipe for disaster. It felt like someone in the scheduling department was a bitter Patriots fan still haunted by the helmet catch. It was cruel and unusual punishment.
However, the football gods work in mysterious ways, and after an electric 3-0 preseason, why play fun police when they could keep the good times rolling?
Parsons leaving town gives the Giants a break on strength of schedule... at least on paper. The G-Men still play the Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Chargers in their first four games alone. Still, there’s something oddly comforting knowing the Lions and Bears now have it worse. That has to mean something, if not solely a mental victory.
For Detroit and Chicago fans, it's good luck to you guys. You'll need it. The 26-year-old is a game-wrecker who now resides in the NFC North. He will make approximately nothing easy for your teams, and for that, Giants fans can celebrate. After all, better you than us. All jokes aside, the third-toughest strength of schedule still isn't great, but every bit helps to get this team out of the basement.