Giants Season Prediction Blog

This is the most excited I’ve been about a new season in a really long time.
 
The Giants made the playoffs last year.  This was largely due to great coaching, winning close / coin flip games, and having a very easy schedule.  This year the schedule is brutal.  They have to play the Eagles and Cowboys twice. Instead of playing the putrid AFC South, they play the very strong AFC East - where even the perpetually awful Jets are now good. Add in the Niners and Seahawks and it’s a challenging schedule.  Last year’s team playing this year’s schedule would be happy to win 6 games.... But this isn’t last year’s team. 
 
After inheriting a horrific salary cap situation and little talent Joe Schoen turned it around quickly. The Giants used trades, free agency, and a great draft to massively improve on their greatest areas of weakness.
 
On offense, a key improvement is the acquisition of Darren Waller. While technically a tight end, he is the number one receiver lacking since OBJ.  Adding Paris Campbell, via free agency, and the exciting speedster rookie, Jalen Hyatt,  to the solid- but not at all spectacular -base of Hodgins and Slayton, gives Jones weapons he has never had.   I’m particularly excited to see the splash plays that Hyatt will bring when he gets the chance.
While the line is still not a strength, rookie center, John Michael Schmitz, is an improvement.  Ultimately, the most pivotal factor in the Giants offense may be the year 2 improvement of Evan Neal.  A similar jump to what All-Pro Thomas had is unrealistic, but the bar from last year is quite low.  His pedigree, health, and off-season work bode well for improvement.
Daniel Jones is still ascending ( though should’ve been franchised at a lower dollar amount ) Barkley really could be on his last Giants contract but will be very good.
 
On defense, the biggest weakness was stopping the run.  The Giants materially improved by signing middle linebacker Bobby Okereke and adding depth to the defensive line to replace 2022 lineman who were not NFL worthy.
Improved heath by Azeez Ojulari, who was a stud when healthy, and the expected year 2 jump of Kayvon Thibideaux, alongside interior talent Sexy Dexy Lawrence and Leanard Williams should give the Giants their best pass rush since the Strahan/ Tuck / Umenyora days. The 4 of them only shared the field for a small number of plays last year, but proved that when healthy, it is an elite pass rush.  Add to that the potential of the cheaply acquired Isaiah Simmons- who walks into an ideal defensive coordinator for his unique skill set.  Lastly, while staring two rookie CBs sounds scary, both first rounder Tae Banks and shockingly good looking 6th rounder Tre Hawkins will be a great tandem for years to come.
 
Last year’s team might have only won 5/6 games with this schedule, but this is a much improved team who will win at least 9 games and earn a wild card spot. Consensus is only 7 but I think the risk is still to the upside.  I would be surprised by double digit wins.
 
Given the tough schedule, week 1 against the Cowboys is as close to a must win as a game 1 could ever be.    The Giants enter as home 3-point dogs but I don’t think the league truly recognizes their improvement.   The Giants will pull off the upset 24-27 and the league will take notice.  This will be the last chance to get them at such a low under / over.
 
​Let’s go Giants!!