New York Giants Schedule Release: 5 Most Important Games

Week 6: Monday, October 19th at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 PM

Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings (23) runs the ball against Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox (91) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Divisional games are arguably the most important in the NFL, as they make up six of the 16 games a team will play in a season. For the Giants, beating the Eagles could be right up there with defeating the Cowboys.

Last season the Eagles swept the Giants rather easily, and they will be looking to exact some revenge on their NFC East rivals. This is yet another prime time game, so the lights will be shining brightly on the Giants. No one knows what to expect from the Eagles this upcoming season, as head coach Chip Kelly was given full control and is in the middle of a roster overhaul. Even with that, there is some talent still that the Giants have to work against.

The Giants lucked out with LeSean McCoy getting shipped out of the division, but the Giants will still have to face DeMarco Murray. Murray bolted the Cowboys to sign with the Eagles this offseason as a free agent, and combined with Ryan Matthews, Chris Polk and Darren Sproles have an extremely deep running back stable that has a history of producing. This could be bad news for the Giants, as they had the worst run defense in the NFL last season, and if they struggle again it could be a long night trying to contain the Eagles.

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This game will also have some significance for Victor Cruz. It was this week in the season, on this field and in primetime that he suffered that horrible patellar tendon injury. The hope is that he, along with Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle, will be healthy and clicking, giving Eli Manning one of the best stables of wide receivers to throw the ball to in the NFL.

It will be a mental and emotional hurdle for Cruz to jump, and a game that could define the Giants season. If they pick up a road win in Dallas to start the season, or here against the Eagles, they are already set up for a better season than they endured last year.

Next: Taking On The Defending Champs