Empire Writes Back
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3 Games on Giants Schedule That Will Lead to Culture Change

It’s time to change the losing narrative that looms over the Giants. Win in dominant fashion; win in the final seconds. Just win.

By Anthony Schiro

NFC Wild Card Playoffs - New York Giants v Minnesota Vikings
NFC Wild Card Playoffs - New York Giants v Minnesota Vikings / Stephen Maturen/GettyImages
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Every year when the schedule is released, I look through it and give the Giants an unrealistic winning record. This year, I did the exact same thing. The 2022-23, as well as the 2016-17 Giants seasons seem like such a long time ago, almost like a magical March Madness run that will never happen again. However, I think the recipe for success for the upcoming season could see a lot of parallels to those two seasons.

The losing culture in the locker room needs to change immediately. Here are the games I believe to be the most important on the schedule, and if they are won, a winning season is upon us New York Giants fans.

Week 1: Minnesota Vikings @ Metlife Stadium

I know it seems a bit cliche or obvious to say the first game of the season is important, but I simply cannot stress it enough. Thanks to Statmuse, a quick search of “Giants week one history by game”, showed that dating back to 2012, the Giants hold a record of 2-10 on Week 1. The two games they won came in 2016 and 2022; also the two years they made the playoffs.

A win to start the season will give the team, the locker room, the coaches, and the city in general excitement and momentum for a good season. Another loss on opening weekend would ultimately feel like the same old Giants; another losing season.

The Giants also have to win the games that are “winnable”. The Vikings are starting either Sam Darnold, a QB who has played for 3 different teams since being drafted in 2018, or JJ McCarthy, a rookie. The Giants' revamped defense needs to take advantage of this. These two QBs can easily be flustered early in the game by New York's defensive line and the Giants' offense doesn’t even have to perform well.

Take advantage of not playing an All-Pro caliber QB with good defense, and the offense just has to be serviceable. Last year, the opening night prime-time loss threw off the entire season. Starting the season with a win, against a team that's usually in the wild card race will bode well towards the end of the season. Plus, who doesn't love it when Coach Daboll gets hyped after a win?

Make Sam Darnld see ghosts again. 

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