New York Giants: 3 Bold predictions vs. Jaguars in Week 1
The New York Giants kick off their 2018 season this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. Here are three bold predictions for the game.
The New York Giants kick off their 2018 NFL campaign this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars are listed as three-point favorites, per OddsShark.com.
This will be a very stern test for Big Blue. Jacksonville went 10-6 last year, won the AFC South, and advanced all the way to the AFC Championship Game, dropping a hard-fought 24-20 decision to the New England Patriots. The Jags boast one of the premier defenses in the NFL. They ranked second in yards allowed from scrimmage (286.1 YPG) and points per game allowed (16.8 PPG) last season.
The G-Men are looking to bounce back from a miserable 3-13 season in 2017. There is optimism surrounding the team with the additions of free agent left tackle Nate Solder, rookie left guard Will Hernandez and rookie halfback Saquon Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Mix in the return to full health of three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., and the Giants have a reasonable chance to contend for a NFC playoff berth this year.
Without any further adieu, here are three bold predictions for this season-opening battle:
No. 1: Saquon Barkley rushes for over 100 yards in his NFL debut
The Giants drafted the Penn State product to be a difference maker on offense and he steps up in an enormous way by rushing for 105 yards against a robust Jags defensive unit. The strongest area of New York’s revamped offensive line is their left side (Solder and Hernandez) and Barkley does most of his damage running to that side.
The 6-0, 234-pounder is a superior athlete and also a solid receiver out of the backfield. He adds three receptions for 24 yards and does an effective job picking up the blitz in his NFL debut. Barkley already looks like a Pro Bowl player.
No. 2: Eli Manning throws for over 200 yards and 2 touchdowns
That won’t be easy against the Jaguars, who led the league in pass defense in 2017 (169.9 YPG). However, this is a new year and the veteran signal-caller gets ample time to throw from the pocket behind Big Blue’s improved offensive line. He tosses touchdown passes to Beckham and Sterling Shepard, respectively.
Manning is 37 years old now and past his prime. He is looking to bounce back from a mediocre 2017 campaign (19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions). The two-time Super Bowl MVP gets his 15th season off to a roaring start. He should be rejuvenated this season with a plethora of weapons at his disposal and a stouter offensive line to protect him.
No. 3: The Giants upset Jacksonville, 20-17
The G-Men need to win this game because they face a killer schedule in the early going. Three of their first five games are on the road against Dallas, Houston and Carolina. You have to win your home contests if you have viable playoff aspirations. MetLife Stadium will be rocking. Watching Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey go toe-to-toe with Beckham will be worth the price of admission in itself.
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The Giants hold Leonard Fournette to 71 rushing yards and force quarterback Blake Bortles into a pair of interceptions as the Big Blue faithful roar in delight. This will be a tough, hard-nosed, physical battle but Barkley, Manning and Beckham power the G-Men to a huge opening game triumph.