The 2024 NFL schedule has finally been released, bringing us one step closer to the season and what it could look like for the NY Giants. How the schedule is set up can play a big role in how any team's year pans out, and as of right now, things are looking pretty solid for New York.
Only time will tell how things go, but just looking at the schedule now shows some games are definitely more important than others. Depending on how they go, these five games could make or break the Giants' season:
5. Week 1 vs. Vikings
In the last 10 years, the Giants have won their Week 1 matchup just twice - once in 2016, and again in 2022. If you don't know, these are also the only two times New York has made the playoffs in the last decade. While this is no doubt a coincidence, it never hurts to start the season off strong, and doing so against the Vikings, whom the Giants bested in the Wild Card Round of the 2022 playoffs, could be huge.
This Vikings team is likely going to be much weaker than in previous seasons. Not only did they lose Kirk Cousins to the Falcons, but Danielle Hunter also left in free agency as well. With two of their top playmakers on both sides of the ball gone and a rookie J.J. McCarthy making his NFL debut, this could be a huge opportunity for New York to start the season off hot.
In addition to this, second-year corner Deonte Banks will be faced with a tough matchup against Justin Jefferson. If this goes well for Banks, it could give him insane amounts of confidence that could carry on for the remainder of the season. Regardless, given their history of Week 1 wins, the Giants have to take advantage of this matchup. If all goes well, maybe we could see a return to the postseason for the second time in three years.
4. Week 6 vs. Bengals
This is the Giants' first and only Sunday Night Football matchup and it comes against one of the best teams in the NFL. This, alongside how close it is to the halfway point of the NFL season, could play a role in determining how the rest of the season goes for New York.
The Bengals may have had a down season in 2023, but a big reason for this is that star QB Joe Burrow played in just 10 games due to a wrist injury. While they've had some turmoil from within due to contract issues, the odds of them having another poor season are rather low.
However, if the Bengals do start off slow, this could be a demoralizing loss for them, one that they may not be able to afford with the trade deadline being just three weeks away. As for the Giants, a win against a team like the Bengals could give them an incredible amount of momentum heading into the second half of the season.
3. Week 7 vs. Eagles
Last season, we saw the Giants be more competitive against the Eagles than usual. Not only did they take a Week 18 game that likely played a role in Philadelphia's postseason demise, but they lost by just eight points in Week 16. Now, with both teams making some upgrades this offseason, it'll be interesting to see how these matchups play out.
Philadelphia is still likely the better team, but that didn't matter much in the final game of the 2023 season, so who knows what could happen. Regardless, this game could have some interesting repercussions for both sides. This game comes two weeks away from the new trade deadline, so if either is disappointing beforehand, a loss could determine how said deadline goes for them.
This game will also be Saquon Barkley's return to MetLife Stadium after leaving in free agency. Emotions will be high amongst players and fans, so the odds for a barn-burning classic are incredibly high. The Giants would love nothing more than to hand Barkley an L in his return to East Rutherford.
2. Week 13 vs. Cowboys
Once again, the Giants have been given a Thanksgiving matchup, this time, against the Cowboys. Not only is any Thanksgiving game exciting to watch, but being as late as it is in the season, the Giants could have some real benefits for coming out with an underdog win.
The Giants haven't beaten the Cowboys since 2020, and last season, Dallas absolutely wiped the floor with them, winning both games by a combined score of 89-17. This is unacceptable and if the Giants want to show that they aren't messing around in 2024, they need to take one of their matchups against Dallas.
While they face off first in Week 4 on Thursday Night Football, a win against America's team on Thanksgiving would be a great slap in the face. This game could also spell disaster for the Cowboys if they lose. They've consistently disappointed year in and year out, so a late-season loss to New York could start another downward spiral.
1. Week 18 vs. Eagles
For the third season in a row, the Giants will be ending their season by facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles. This is a game that could have some massive ramifications for both teams regardless of playoff status. For example, last season the Eagles had already clinched the playoffs, but were on a downward spiral before losing to the Giants and eventually collapsing in the postseason.
On the Giants' side, this game could either push them into the playoffs, or net them a higher draft pick depending on how the season goes. Which direction fans will root for will be entirely determined by how the previous 17 weeks go.
Regardless, it's always fun to watch the Giants take on the Eagles. Now, with Barkley suiting up for Philadelphia, we all have some extra motivation to want to watch New York end the season with a massive win.