The 2023 NFL schedule unveiling on Thursday revealed that the New York Giants will have five primetime games this season. While fans will certainly be excited about seeing the Giants on the biggest stage, there are plenty of other nuggets as well.
Among the primetime matchups, New York will open its season against the Dallas Cowboys for the first time since 2012. Not only is early positioning in the NFC East at stake, but the Giants will also try and improve their 6-8 record against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
The first primetime affair will happen in Week 1 when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. This will mark the first time since 2012 that New York opened the season at home against Dallas. New York is 6-8 against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Related: New York Giants schedule
The Giants will have a tall task on their hands if they’re going to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2007-’08, facing eight playoff teams from last season. Based on last year’s opponents, they have the third toughest schedule in the NFL.
Here are three things that stand out on the Giants’ schedule.
New York Giants will rack up travel miles early
The Giants will look to get the season on the right foot as they look to defeat the Cowboys for the first time since the 2020 season finale. All division games are important, but this game will be even more amplified considering it’s a primetime game, and seven of their next ten games will be on the road.
Related: NFL insider addresses New York Giants’ odds of extending Saquon Barkley
The positive of having the bulk of their road games early in the season is the fact that four of their final six games will be played at MetLife Stadium. But it’s imperative that they hold their own on the road before the final stretch of the season.
Daniel Jones, Giants’ defense early with four consecutive playoff opponents
If there’s a stretch of games that’s going to make or break the season for New York, it’s Weeks 3-6 where they have four consecutive games against playoff teams from last year.
First, they travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers, then they’re home against the Seahawks, followed by two road games against the Dolphins and Bills. Teams’ rosters have significant turnover with their roster from year to year, so you can’t base everything on the past. However, each of these four teams are expected to be in the playoff hunt once again.
Related: 3 takeaways from the New York Giants’ 2023 NFL Draft
If the Giants can go 2-2 or better in this stretch, it will demonstrate that they’re one of the best teams in the league and that the team’s success last year was not a fluke.
Christmas Day can feel more special with the Eagles’ winning streak ended
The Giants last beat the Eagles in Philadelphia on October 27th, 2013. That seems hard to believe but it’s true. Ever since then, playing in the city of Brotherly Love has been a house of horrors for Big Blue, including last season’s 38-7 debacle in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
General manager Joe Schoen has made significant upgrades to the roster through the free agency and the draft to close the gap between Big Blue and their division rival.
This season presents the most opportune time to put an end to this losing season as they play the Eagles on Christmas Day. New York has a chance to give their fans a holiday gift by putting an end to this dubious streak and earning a win that may have playoff and division implications.