New York Giants: Is finishing .500 in the cards for 2018?
The New York Giants have captured three of their last four games. Can they finish at .500 this season?
As the New York Giants wind down a disappointing 2018 campaign, there is still a goal to keep in mind. How viable a goal it is remains to be seen.
Winners of three of their last four games, the G-Men can finish the season with a .500 record if they capture their final four contests. No one would have thought that was possible after New York’s 1-7 start.
So how realistic is this possibility? Let’s take a look at the last four games on the schedule for Big Blue and predict their final ledger.
Week 14: at Redskins
Washington has been decimated with injuries and is in total freefall now. Quarterback Alex Smith and backup Colt McCoy have both suffered season-ending injuries so the Redskins (6-6) turn to “The Sanchize”, former Jets signal-caller Mark Sanchez to run the offense. Advantage Giants.
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The G-Men are coming off a five-sack performance against Chicago so look for them to dial-up the pressure on the rusty third-string quarterback. Expect Saquon Barkley (1,556 scrimmage yards, 12 touchdowns) to continue his torrid rookie season against a defense that is tied for 19th in the NFL (367.4 yards per game). Giants 24, Redskins 16
Week 15: vs. Titans
The G-Men begin a two-game stretch against the AFC South by hosting the Titans (7-6), who are vying for a playoff berth. Big Blue will have to contain halfback Derrick Henry, who just gashed the Jaguars on Thursday night in Week 14 for a team-record 238 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
New York will also need to suppress quarterback Marcus Mariota (339 rushing yards), one of the better scramblers in the NFL. The Giants simply have too many offensive weapons for an underrated Titans defense though — Odell Beckham, Jr. and Barkley each find the end zone to lift the G-Men to 6-8. Giants 20, Titans 17
Week 16: at Colts
The Colts are another squad that is battling for an AFC playoff berth. Quarterback Andrew Luck is the leading candidate for NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He ranks second in the league with 32 touchdown passes and owns a career-high 98.9 QB rating. The Giants need to pressure him, make him hurry his throws, especially via the A-Gap.
Luck has dynamic weapons in T.Y. Hilton (787 receiving yards) and tight end Eric Ebron (11 touchdown receptions). This promises to be a high-scoring affair. Big Blue will miss strong safety Landon Collins (shoulder), who is out for the season. This is where the opportunity to finish at .500 dies. Luck tosses three touchdown passes to power the Colts to victory. Colts 34, Giants 28
Week 17: vs. Cowboys
The Giants conclude a very humbling campaign against their long-time rival. The Cowboys edged them, 20-13 in Week 2. The key to this contest will be whether the G-Men can contain Ezekiel Elliott (1,572 scrimmage yards, 11 total touchdowns) and Amari Cooper (85.0 receiving yards per game with Dallas).
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The answer is simple — they can’t. Look for the Cowboys to control the time of possession via a stellar ground game and for quarterback Dak Prescott to find Cooper on a 42-yard touchdown strike to lift Dallas to the NFC East crown. Big Blue finishes up at 6-10. Cowboys 27, Giants 17