Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
The New York Giants have pretty much been an abject disaster since winning the Super Bowl in 2011. They have enjoyed winning records only twice in the last eight years, made the playoffs just once, have not won a single postseason game, and compiled marks of 5-11 and 4-12 under most recent head coach Pat Shurmur.
Things cannot possibly be as bad with Joe Judge at the helm, can they? If the answer is “no,” that probably says more about just how bad the Giants were with Shurmur than it does about Judge. To say the 38-year-old former coach of the New England Patriots’ special teams is unproven would be a gross understatement. Will he be able to impress in year one in New York? Let’s dissect the schedule to find out….
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
If nothing else, the Giants are at least younger than the Steelers. If Daniel Jones can outplay quarterback counterpart Ben Roethlisberger, the home team may be able to take care of business. Win
Week 2: @ Chicago Bears
In 2020 the road will likely be much less kind to the Giants than their own friendly confines. At least it won’t be freezing in Chicago at this point, but the Bears’ defense should be able to contain Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. Loss
Week 3: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Even at home., this will be one of New York’s toughest tests in 2020. The 49ers are coming off an NFC championship campaign and they are showing no signs of slowing down. Loss
Week 4: @ Los Angeles Rams
This is a winnable road game in what will be a battle between young quarterbacks in Jones and Justin Herbert. Don’t be surprised if L.A. manages to scrape out an ugly victory. Loss
Week 5: @ Dallas Cowboys
The Giants’ first NFC East showdown of 2020 does not come until Week 5, and it will perhaps come as the toughest of those six games. Dallas just isn’t losing this matchup at home. Loss
Week 6: vs. Washington Redskins
Next comes what could be the easiest of the six divisional contests: Washington at home. The Redskins’ defense should improve with Chase Young, but nonetheless Barkley will likely have his way. Win
Week 7: @ Philadelphia Eagles
A third consecutive rivalry game could be as tough as the first. In Week 7, who will be under center for the Eagles: Carson Wentz or Jalen Hurts? It probably won’t matter. Loss
Week 8: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady has struggled against the Giants throughout his career almost as bad as he struggled on the links in The Match: Champions for Charity. But the Manning brothers ain’t walkin’ through that door. Loss
Week 9: @ Washington Redskins
Although this is a rare winnable road game for New York, at the same time it is also a rare winnable game for the Redskins. Neither team is going to be good, but home-field advantage may make the difference. Loss
Week 10: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Prior to their bye week, the G-Men face five NFC East opponents in the span of six weeks. It probably won’t end on a positive note with the Eagles paying a visit. Loss
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Giants have to win at least once on the road this season, right? If they do, Cincinnati is going to be the spot. The Bengals still have a ton of holes despite filling the one at quarterback with Joe Burrow. Win
Week 13: @ Seattle Seahawks
A road win definitely isn’t going to come in Seattle. The Seahawks were one of the best teams in the NFC this past year and more of the same should be in the cards for 2020. Loss
Week 14: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is on the rise in what is a tough NFC West. It’s bad news for the Giants that they have to play against that division, and they surely aren’t going to beat anyone except maybe the Rams. Loss
Week 15: vs. Cleveland Browns
Few franchises in the NFL have disappointment more than Cleveland in recent times. A bad loss to the Giants near the end of the 2020 campaign may clinch another disappointing season for the Browns. Win
Week 16: @ Baltimore Ravens
In what will likely be a bad record already on their resume, a road date with Baltimore only adds insult to injury for the Giants. Lamar Jackson is going to make this a rout right from the start. Loss
Week 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys
New York will undoubtedly be out of it by this point. That is not to say the home team won’t get up for a showdown with the rival Cowboys, but the visitors will want it more. Loss
As the Giants turn over their rebuilding process from Shurmur to Judge, the pick here is that they once again go 4-12. In other words, there will be no step forward but also no step back. But if Jones makes progress and Barkley emerges as the best running back in football, there is at least some potential for a record of something close to .500.
