The 2024 NFL schedule is out and it has everyone very excited and predicting 2024 team records. The NY Giants schedule on paper looks a little easier than it did in 2023. Despite that, the Giants still have some tough matchups ahead of them in 2024.
The Giants notably have a big matchup on Thanksgiving with the Dallas Cowboys, a matchup in Germany with the Carolina Panthers and three primetime matchups on the way. It will be important for the Giants to get off to a fast start after last year’s opening night debacle against the Dallas Cowboys when they lost 40-0 at home. With that said, there were some instances in which the NFL did NY no favors with their schedule:
4. NY Giants go international
The NFL crowd in Germany was absolutely incredible the last time they hosted an NFL game, so it will be fun seeing the Giants play in Germany behind that great international crowd. That doesn’t mean it won’t be a tough task. The Giants will take on the Panthers in Munich. It’s a game the Giants should win. The Giants are 3-0 in international games.
While it will be really cool to potentially win another international game, some fans might complain It's an early game with a 9:30 am kickoff. For the Giants it's a long trip. Players will have to get used to a new environment and a new field and they will have to do that quickly. I personally think this game will be fun, but some fans seem to feel different. A huge storyline in this game will be the Giants big new defensive weapon Brian Burns playing against his former team.
3. Two tough stretches of games
Some may feel the Giants have a favorable schedule compared to last season, but they still will face two really tough stretches. One of those tough stretches is at the beginning of the season and the second tough stretch is towards the end of the season. How Big Blue fares in those games will likely determine if they are in the playoff mix or not.
The first extremely tough portion of the schedule begins in Week 3 when the Giants play the Browns in Cleveland. That game is followed with a Thursday night game against the Cowboys, a game in Seattle against the Seahawks, Sunday night hosting the Bengals, a home game against the Eagles and finally a Monday night game against the Steelers. Those are six very tough games in Weeks 3-8.
The next extremely tough portion of the schedule begins in Week 12 and carries into the last game of the season. That stretch includes matchups with the Buccaneers, Cowboys, Ravens, Falcons and Eagles. Even the Colts and Saints can be tough opponents. It will be interesting to see how the Giants navigate through these tough stretches. They must avoid some of the long losing streaks we have seen in the past.
Personally, I hate the Giants' schedule. But it's not about me.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) May 15, 2024
Here. You decide: https://t.co/xE4iBeL70S https://t.co/YOzvYXm5iT
2. Two Thursday meetings with the Dallas Cowboys
If last year’s primetime debacle against the Dallas Cowboys to open the season wasn’t enough for the NY Giants, this year they'll face off on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, and then face off again on Thursday for a Thanksgiving Day tilt. That Week 4 game is following a tough game against Cleveland too in Week 3.
Things have not been easy for the Giants against the Cowboys of late. As head coach of the NY Giants, Brian Daboll is 0-4 against America's Team. In 2023, the Cowboys outscored the Giants 89-17. The defense was absolutely embarrassing against the Cowboys last year giving up 40 and 49 points. Those kinds of performances can't be repeated.
1. Difficult primetime matchups for the NY Giants
The Giants have struggled in primetime matchups in recent years. During the Jones era, the Giants are 1-12 in those games - Danny Dimes has thrown for 12 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in primetime, which is brutal. Things won't be easy for the Giants in 2024 there, as they have primetime games against the Cowboys, Bengals and Steelers.
The Bengals were expected to be a Super Bowl contender in 2023. Things didn’t go to plan, as star quarterback Joe Burrow dealt with multiple injuries and was sidelined for much of the year. The Bengals still managed to go 9-8 without Burrow, which is a testament to a very strong roster. The Steelers added both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to improve a bad quarterbacks room from 2023.
The Giants had interest in signing Russell Wilson, but ultimately passed on the chance and will likely face him on Monday Night Football. Two of those primetime games will be at home at MetLife Stadium, but fans aren't feeling overly confident in NY posting a win in any of them.