On Thursday night, the official schedule for the New York Giants came out and the predictions for the season have already started. Last year, the Giants shocked the entire football world when they rebounded from a 4-13 season to go 9-7-1 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Most had expected the Giants to win about 5-6 games in 2022. Instead, the Giants got off to a tremendous start, starting at 6-2 before the bye week and were at 9-6-1 when they clinched the playoff spot in Week 17. Now, it’s a whole new slate of games for the Giants in 2023.
OUR 2023 SCHEDULE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SAXGDpppmq
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 12, 2023
Unlike last year when the Giants started out the season with one Monday night game, a Thanksgiving game and a London game; and eventually being flexed into a Sunday Night Football game in late December, the Giants are given six primetime games (five if you don't count Christmas vs. Philly). The world will see just how good this team can be. Here's four reasons why we think they can go 12-5:
4. Learning to finish and win football games
Ome of the things the Giants learned how to do in 2022 is win. And not just win, finish the tough games. When they were able to knock off the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 and start off 1-0, it gave the Giants the jolt in the arm they needed. Then they were able to hold off the Carolina Panthers as well.
The real jolt and springboard for the Giants season was when they knocked off the Green Bay Packers in London. That was the moment where the entire football world knew that the Giants were back from the NFL basement. In consecutive weeks, the Giants finished off the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars - both playoff teams - to push them to 6-1.
The most important games that tested the Giants mental toughness was the SNF win over the Washington Commanders that propelled them back to the No. 6 seed and then the Giants playoff victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
This confidence to win and learning how to finish teams off came with Brian Daboll. And it will only continue under the NFL’s current Coach of the Year. There's a new culture for the Giants right now. The league needs to understand this.
3. The improvements with stability on offense
One of the setbacks that Daniel Jones had early in his career was having to learn a new offense with different coaches and coordinators.
Jones took a step back after the success he had as a rookie under Pat Shurmur when the Giants brought in Joe Judge and Jason Garrett, as the style of offense under those two nearly ruined Jones and his promising career. Remember John Mara’s exact words, “We’ve really screwed him up.”
Under Daboll, and returning offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, the Giants are building some stability and continuity with the offense. While Jones only threw for just 15 touchdown passes in 2022, Danny Dimes had success. Enough success to earn him a $160 million contract from the Giants that solidifies him as the current franchise quarterback.
Add in Darren Waller, who when healthy, can produce a 1,000-yard season, Parris Campbell, who has yet to even show his true potential, and Jalin Hyatt, who once torched Alabama for 200 yards and five touchdown catches, and the offense is slowly showing even more promise than it did from last year.
Plus, once Saquon Barkley returns from the contract situation, and the Giants putting a beast in the middle of the offensive line in John Michael Schmitz, and the Giants offense suddenly looks like it will be one that has to be feared in 2023. It will certainly help them come out on top of close contests.
2. The defense will be better
One of the biggest victories of the offseason for the Giants was when Wink Martindale decided to remain the team’s defensive coordinator despite having multiple interviews and possible chances at head coaching opportunities.
Now that’s not saying Martindale won’t have other chances, especially given the way his defenses have been successful in now two locations with the Baltimore Ravens and Giants.
One of those improvements will be the continued success of Dexter Lawrence, who was rewarded with a four-year, $90 million extension. Under Martindale, Lawrence elevated his game from good to elite and now he’s been paid for it. Lawrence should only continue to improve under a defensive line that is considered one of the better ones in the league.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants first-round pick from last year, got even stronger as the season went on and should get better in his sophomore season. Add in free agent linebacker Bobby Okereke, who should flourish playing behind a dominant Giants defensive front.
The secondary is expected to be much better with the team drafting Deonte Banks in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft; a corner who can go step for step with any wide receiver and should succeed playing alongside Adoree' Jackson.
Martindale’s defense brings a lot of pressure and forces opposing offenses to make mistakes and create turnovers. With the young core of players on defense who will thrive in the scheme that Martindale coaches and with Daboll’s winning attitude, the Giants defense can only get better, and that isn’t good news for the rest of the league and especially the NFC.
1. Protecting the MetLife Stadium field
Most good teams play well at home. A year ago, the Giants were no different, as they were 5-3-1 when playing at MetLife Stadium. Take away that one tie against the Commanders and the Giants really should have won six games in their building.
Being a winning team at home is a trait of a team who can get to the playoffs and in 2023, it should be no different. In the early prediction, I had the Giants going 7-1 at home. Several of the wins predicted for the Giants to win at home will be late in the season.
The Giants should be good enough to beat the New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers in a national TV game, the Los Angeles Rams and yes, even against the division winner and Super Bowl runner up the Philadelphia Eagles.
Last year showed that the Giants could win some tough games on the road. But they also proved they could protect their own turf and in 2023, it should be a lot of the same in a potential 12-5 season.
READ MORE: Game-by-game predictions for the NY Giants 2023 season