Three must-see games for 2025 New York Giants

Unlike the Giants, the Saints don’t have a veteran quarterback in front of Shough. Now that Derek Carr is retired, the former Louisville Cardinal will compete with Spencer Rattler, the team’s fifth-round pick in 2024, for the starting quarterback position.

After 42 games in seven college seasons, Shough has more experience than most rookie quarterbacks and is particularly good with play-action passes. Per ESPN’s Jordan Reid, Shough finished last season with 12 touchdown passes to only one interception on play action, while his 28 completions of 20-plus yards off play action ranked third in the FBS.

The Giants don’t share a long history with the Saints. They’re 2-3 in their last five games against New Orleans, but this game could give New York fans a glimpse of what might have been if Shough gets the start.

Week 6 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Four days after the team’s trip to New Orleans, New York welcomes the defending Super Bowl champions for a prime-time matchup on "Thursday Night Football." 

Once again, longtime Giant Saquon Barkley will enter MetLife Stadium as a visitor after signing with Philadelphia last offseason. When the 28-year-old running back last met his former team, he averaged a season-high 10.4 yards per carry for 176 yards and a score on his way to becoming the NFL’s leading rusher with 2,005 yards. 

The Giants lost to the Eagles 28-3 that day, the team’s second-worst loss of the 2024 season. This year’s matchup could offer more of the same, although linebacker Abdul Carter, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, might have something extra playing against his hometown Philadelphia Eagles.

Week 12 at Detroit Lions

Giants fans hoping for a win are likely to be disappointed, but fans of offense and scoring should be in for a treat when the Giants visit Ford Field in late November. No team scored more points per game (33.2) than the Lions last season, and only the Ravens (424.9) averaged more yards than Detroit (409.5).

Quarterback Jared Goff’s 37 touchdowns were the fourth most in the league last year, while his 4,629 yards trailed only Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow (4,918). Meanwhile, Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs finished as the NFL’s fifth-leading rusher with 1,412 yards and a league-high 16 touchdowns as teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown had the third-most touchdowns (12) and fifth-most yards (1,263) of any receiver.

Of course, the Lions could always get caught looking ahead to a Week 13 matchup against the rival Green Bay Packers. If not, Week 12 promises to be a high-scoring affair.