Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Giants Schedule Breakdown

The NFL schedule is out.  The semi-national holiday that is NFL Schedule Release Day has now come and passed, and football fans across the country can now plan their road trips or map out their Sundays for the entire fall.  The schedule always provides some interesting analysis, and, after I've gotten a chance to examine it a little more closely, I'll give you my thoughts on the entire 2014 slate.  But, for today, we'll just take a look at the schedule the NFL has devised for the New York Football Giants.

Week 1: at Lions (Monday Night)
They get the first half of the season-opening Monday night doubleheader.  The Giants haven't opened on Monday night since 2001.  That game is significant because of what happened a few hours later.  They played the Broncos on Monday night, September 10, 2001.  As we all know, the world changed a few hours later, shortly after the Giants landed in New York.  Anyway, the Giants beat the Lions in Detroit in overtime in Week 16, then played their last game of the 2013 season at home, so they're actually playing back-to-back road games in Detroit.  It's a very interesting matchup between two teams that underachieved last season.  This is also the first time in three years the Giants aren't opening against Dallas.

Week 2: vs. Cardinals
Arizona in the home opener.  It's the first time the Cardinals will ever play in MetLife Stadium.  I like the fact that this is a 1:00 start.  Those traditionally give the West Coast teams trouble.

Week 3: vs. Texans
Getting Houston this early could be a very good thing.  Because I have a feeling the Texans are better than 2-14.  But I also think it'll take them a while to get going, especially if they take a quarterback with the No. 1 pick.  Either way, this will be Giants' fans chance to see that No. 1 pick in action.  It's also a chance to boost that record to 3-0 before starting division play.

Week 4: at Redskins (Thursday Night)
You knew when CBS bought the first half of the Thursday night package that they'd put some good Thursday night games earlier in the season.  And you also had to figure there'd probably be an NFC East game included in there somewhere.  Sure enough, it's Giants at Redskins in Week 4.  Week 4 is kind of late for the first division game, and the Redskins are probably going to be very tough on the road in a short week.  Tougher than usual.

Week 5: vs. Falcons
The early schedule is very kind.  This is another chance to bulk up that record before getting into the meat of the schedule.  This matchup is sandwiched between all three of the division road games, making it even more important.  I'm not going to say a Week 5 game is a must-win, but this is one that could end up costing the Giants later in the year if they don't take it.

Week 6: at Eagles (Sunday Night)
Flex scheduling starts ridiculously early this year, but I think it's safe to say Giants-Eagles isn't going anywhere.  The Giants won in Philly last year, but it was the Eagles that went on to win the division title.  This is the start of a brutal stretch that continues the next week in Dallas.  Getting one of the two has to be the hope.  Getting both would be a bonus.

Week 7: vs. Cowboys
After two straight years of meeting in the opener, the Giants and Cowboys don't play until Week 7 this season.  It's also weird that they're going to be done with their division road games in mid-October.  Anyway, for some reason, they always play well in Jerry's World.  Last year was the first time the Giants ever lost there.

Week 8: Bye
They deserve a break after playing all three of their division road games in a four-week period.  I, personally, think the Week 8-9-10 byes are the best ones.  Directly in the middle of the season.

Week 9: vs. Colts (Monday Night)
OK, this matchup isn't anywhere near as fun now that Peyton's on the Broncos.  Eli vs. Luck simply doesn't have the same cache.  This, in fact, is the first Giants-Colts game since 2002 that doesn't feature both of the Brothers Manning.  It should be an entertaining game nonetheless, as Eli doesn't have to worry about being in his brother's shadow anymore and can just worry about the Indianapolis defense.

Week 10: at Seahawks
The Seahawks have some fond memories of their trips to MetLife Stadium in 2013.  First, they beat the Giants 23-0 in Week 15, then returned two months later and clobbered Denver 40-8 in the Super Bowl.  So, they probably wish this game was in New York.  It's not like that matters too much, though.  The Seahawks are the defending champions and they never lose at home.  This one'll be tough.

Week 11: vs. 49ers
After flying to the West Coast to meet the Super Bowl champions, the Giants return home to face the team Seattle beat in the NFC title game.  It's their third straight game against a 2013 playoff team.  This is actually the first time they're meeting in New York in quite some time.  And once again, the 1:00 game against a West Coast team is a good thing.

Week 12: vs. Cowboys (Sunday Night)
The annual Giants-Cowboys Sunday night game, although I don't think it's right that Dallas has to play a Sunday night road game right before Thanksgiving.  The weird thing about this series is that the Giants always win in Dallas, but the Cowboys always win in New York.  Will the trend continue?

Week 13: at Jaguars
Four straight pressure cookers after the bye before the Giants finally catch a break.  Tom Coughlin returns to Jacksonville for the second time as Giants coach.  Assuming the Jaguars continue their recent tradition of barely resembling an NFL team, this looks like a win for the taking.

Week 14: at Titans
The second straight AFC South road game, which wraps up the Giants' interconference slate.  Believe it or not, the Giants have lost five straight to the Oilers/Titans and haven't beaten the franchise in 20 years.  That's entirely too long.  Time to change that.  If they don't do it this year, that streak will reach 24 years before they have a chance at snapping it.

Week 15: vs. Redskins
This is the third straight year in which Washington's visit doesn't come until December.  Last year it was Week 17, this year it's Week 15.  Assuming they're still in the division race this late in the season, the Giants will be in a great position to control their own fate.  Their final two home games are against Washington and Philadelphia.

Week 16: at Rams
The final road game of the season is in St. Louis.  I had this one happening earlier in the season, so I guess I didn't win the Rams' $1 billion prize.  This one has the danger of being a trap game.  The Rams aren't bad, and they've been known to give good teams a difficult time late in the season.  If St. Louis is still in the race, I'd expect that to once again be the case.  Even if they're out of it, the Rams will be a tough test.

Week 17: vs. Eagles
They played the Redskins in the finale last year and the Eagles the year before that, so following the rotation would've led you to think it'd be Dallas in Week 17.  But instead it's the Eagles, and I can easily see this one being flexed into the Sunday night spot that seems to be reserved for the NFC East (although, I think it's actually reserved for Dallas).  My early guess is that this one's for the division title.

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