New York Giants schedule and 2021 season predictions

The New York Giants’ 2021 season schedule recently was released, and after a huge offseason, it’ll be fascinating to see how the team fares this year.

After spending big in free agency to acquire No. 1 receiver Kenny Golladay and drafting Florida’s Kadarius Toney 20th overall, the offense led by third-year quarterback Daniel Jones should be vastly improved. However, will it be enough for Big Blue to make the playoffs?

Let’s take a look at New York’s schedule and make score predictions for each contest on the 17-game slate.

Week 1 – vs. Denver Broncos

This should be a low-scoring battle with the underrated element that prior Giants head coach Pat Shurmur serves as Denver’s offensive coordinator. However, Jones is a better QB than either of the current options the Broncos intend to trot out in 2021 in Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock, which swings the outcome in favor of the home team.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Giants 17, Broncos 16

Week 2 – @ Washington Football Team

It should be a relatively low-scoring, gritty battle when these teams meet twice during the 2021 campaign. In the nation’s capital, though, Washington’s defense is going to be too much for New York’s outmatched offensive line, which is one area the Giants didn’t improve enough this offseason.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Washington 31, Giants 17

Week 3 – vs. Atlanta Falcons

There are not enough reinforcements on this Falcons defense to keep pace in the NFC. However, Matt Ryan should have no trouble putting up points no matter who he’s facing with the likes of Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and now Kyle Pitts to throw to.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Giants 41, Falcons 34

Week 4 – @ New Orleans Saints

New Orleans had to execute tons of salary cap gymnastics this offseason just to keep its core intact. After all that, the Saints’ QB situation with Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill actually feels worse than what the Giants have with Jones, meaning the Superdome isn’t the intimidating environment it’s been in years past.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Giants 31, Saints 21

Week 5 – @ Dallas Cowboys

Both teams have a lot of weapons on offense, which should lend itself to a high-scoring showdown between these two bitter rivals. However, the G-Men have a superior defense, as Dallas has to count on too many rookies on that side of the ball.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Giants 35, Cowboys 32

Week 6 – vs. Los Angeles Rams

Even though the Rams lost some key players in their secondary in John Johnson III and Troy Hill to Cleveland, they upgraded from Jared Goff to Matthew Stafford at quarterback. That should make their offense borderline unstoppable, even against an underrated defense like the that of the Giants.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Rams 34, Giants 16

Week 7 – vs. Carolina Panthers

Sam Darnold returns to New York but this time to play the city’s other represented team. It’s difficult to project how Darnold will fare in Carolina, but his Jets tenure wasn’t promising. He’ll have some “ghosts” to get rid of in returning to MetLife Stadium, and the Giants are good enough defensively to force some costly errors.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Giants 28, Panthers 19

Week 8 – @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs’ defense isn’t that great, and if Saquon Barkley can help the Giants establish the run, they have a chance to hang tough with Kansas City, at least to a point. Alas, Patrick Mahomes is just too good to allow his team to lose at Arrowhead Stadium against such an inferior foe.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Chiefs 42, Giants 28

Week 9 – vs. Las Vegas Raiders

That Las Vegas defense is just awful, so as long as Jones can protect the ball and Barkley can get enough push from his offensive line against the Raiders’ lackluster front seven, New York should blow this game wide-open.

New York Giants schedule prediction: Giants 42, Raiders 31

WEEK 10 BYE

Week 11 – @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers