When you have a losing record in each of the past two seasons and finish in last place during that span, you would imagine that an easier schedule would be on the horizon.
In the New York Giants’ case, they have finished with a combined 8-24 record over past last two seasons, including a 5-11 record in 2018. Because of the second straight season with a record under .500, the Giants caught a softer schedule in 2019 — one CBS Sports has ranked as the sixth-easiest in the league.
Easiest stretch: If Eli Manning ends up as the Giants starting quarterback this season, they might want to go ahead bench him if he can’t lead them to a .500 or above record through the first month of the season, and that’s because New York’s easiest stretch will be coming during the first four weeks. Specifically, that stretch will start in Week 2 with a home game against the Bills. After that, the Giants will play the Redskins on the road in Week 3, before hosting the Buccaneers in Week 4. That’s three straight games against three teams that all finished with a losing record last year. If Eli can’t go at least 2-1 during that span, maybe it’s time to retire.
Roughest stretch: If the Giants end up making a quarterback change during their bye week this year, Daniel Jones could be in for a ugly debut, and that’s because the roughest stretch of the Giants’ schedule starts following their Week 11 bye. Not only do the Giants have to travel to Chicago for a game against the Bears in Week 12, but after that, they have to play the Packers at home before hitting the road in Week 13 to face the Eagles.
Surprisingly enough, the Giants’ rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, were ranked 28th in the NFL by CBS Sports, which equates to the easiest schedule of all the NFC teams (Giants checked in at No. 2).
Having an “easy” schedule in the NFL means absolutely nothing however, especially if you don’t win any of your games. A year ago, the Giants started out 1-7 before winning four of their last six games to finish 5-11.
Given the expectations going into 2019, nobody anticipates the Giants having a playoff-type season, so maybe they can defy the odds, fly under-the-radar and try to get back to the postseason like they did in 2016.
