The New York Giants have won their first two games of the preseason, and did so with fantastic performances all around. With just one more game left of meaningless football, the regular season is right around the corner.
Related: 3 winners (and 3 losers) from Giants' impressive preseason win vs Jets
So, now thinking about how great and successful this preseason has been, what kind of benchmark must the Giants reach in 2025 to call this season a success? What goals need to be reached, no matter how tall or how small, to call this season a step in the right direction?
Let's talk about it.
Giants set simple benchmark to prove 2025 season is on track
There are a number of factors to consider here with Big Blue's 2025 season. This is a year in which the entire football world is rooting for them to be the biggest losers at the end of the season. A completely unknown roster, with new faces across the depth chart in key areas, as well as the hardest schedule in the NFL, is a cocktail of disaster waiting to happen.
But this preseason has shown everything but that. Notoriously, from years back, it has been a proven fact that teams that go undefeated or look great in the preseason have had horrific regular seasons. This happened with the 2008 Detroit Lions, when they went 5-0 in the preseason and then were winless at 0-16 for the regular season. Talk about a roller coaster ride.
The 2025 Giants are heading that direction with the first criterion, as they are likely going to win their last preseason showdown with the New England Patriots. Then, the real fun begins with the regular season on September 7 on the road in Washington.
So, what benchmarks have to be reached in the 17-game season? A better record has to be reached to prove this team is heading in the right direction. The 2024 campaign saw this team go 3-14, which gives this franchise an easy goal to start with. Even with the extremely tough schedule, Big Blue looks a lot better than advertised already.
With a stacked quarterback room, this season is a tryout for the future franchise quarterback. Russell Wilson will get the first crack at trying to make this situation a recurring thing. He is only signed to a one-year deal, but if things go well, an extension for another season is possible. But let us not ignore the fact that rookie sensation Jackson Dart might already be ready to take the reins.
Finally, the identity of the defense has to be established. As of now, it looks like the traditional, smack-you-in-the-mouth and rigid defensive unit is back, and the raw power attached to it will scare opposing teams. The last time the Giants had a top-five defense was in the two Super Bowl-winning seasons of 1986 and 1990. Only time will tell if the current regime reaches that mark in 2025.