All NFC East games will be tough for the New York Giants this season. With that being said, let’s take a look at the three most difficult non-division contests for Big Blue.
The start of the 2019 NFL season is just around the corner now and the New York Giants are in the final stages of finalizing their 53-man roster and preparing for their season opener in Dallas on Sunday, Sept. 8. Big Blue is looking to bounce back from a putrid 5-11 campaign in 2018.
All division contests are very tough. Always have been and always will be. However, which trio of non-division battles are the most difficult for the G-Men this coming season?
Let’s take a look at the three toughest, ranked in descending order:
3. Dec. 1 vs. Green Bay: Veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers comes to town along with one of the premier wide receivers in the league, Davante Adams. This will be a crucial matchup for cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and rookie Deandre Baker.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
The Giants will also need to contain running back Aaron Jones and try to keep Rodgers from scrambling and picking up key first downs with his nifty, nimble feet. Look for a throng of cheeseheads in the stands at MetLife.
2. Nov. 24 at Chicago: It should be cold and windy just before Thanksgiving at Soldier Field as the Giants face the top-ranked defensive unit from 2018. Whether Eli Manning or Daniel Jones is the quarterback, the G-Men must protect him from Khalil Mack, one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the NFL.
They’ll need to double team Mack or Manning/Jones will be flattened like a pancake. This matchup features Barkley against rookie halfback David Montgomery, one of the better young running backs in the league.
1. Oct. 10 at New England: The Giants travel to Foxborough on a short week to battle the defending Super Bowl champions on Thursday Night Football. It doesn’t get much harder than that.
These two teams face each other every year in the preseason but neither side ever shows much of anything. Big Blue will have to bring pressure up the A-Gap to make Tom Brady move out of his comfort zone. Saquon Barkley will need to have a big game here to help the G-Men control the clock and keep Brady, Sony Michel and Josh Gordon on the sidelines. Easier said than done.