If 2015 will finally be the year that we see the last of Tom Coughlin on the sidelines, then this season would be the opportune time for him to end his career with a bang. The prolific head coach of the New York Giants just had his first string of back-to-back losing records with the team, and you can somehow sense that another trip to the Super Bowl is being panned out by the football gods.
But with so much promise coming from a Giants team entering the season at full-strength, there are still a lot of questions left about the team’s lingering health concerns and roster build that goes hand-in-hand with the optimism. Let’s take a close look at what should be another unpredictable yet entertaining season of football out in the Meadowlands.
One thing’s for certain: the G-Men will have their work cut out for them as their division still boasts a competitive field as with last season. Check out our win total predictions for the entire NFC East here.
[sc:Football ]2015-2016 New York Giants Preview
Overview
Injuries and inconsistency from both ends of the ball plagued what should’ve been a nice way to cap off Tom Coughlin’s decorated legacy in New York.
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Giants could have done better than their 6-10 record from 2014 would suggest thanks in large part to the 10th best offense in the league in terms of passing yards and total yards gained. However, being the fifth-worst team in total defense and third-worst against the run foiled any progress made on the offensive end.
Well, Coughlin is giving another season of New York football a crack before he calls it quits. And why wouldn’t he? The Giants ended last season with a ton of upside for the following year, and the 68-year old coach does indeed have a great set of tools this 2015 to end the team’s three-year playoff drought after winning Super Bowl XLVI.
Offseason Review
Success in football revolves around the quarterback first and foremost, and Eli Manning definitely upped his game once more in 2014. Manning had his most efficient season ever last year with career-bests in completion percentage (63.1) and touchdown-interception ratio (30:14). Thanks to an extraordinary receiving corps, Manning would also pass for 4,410 yards for the season in what was an explosive New York aerial assault.
That same platoon of receivers has returned to set the league ablaze all over again this season. Salsa-dancing Victor Cruz will look to bounce back after missing 10 games last year, and fourth year wideout Reuben Randle will be hungry to top his career-best 938-yard outing from last season. And of course, there’s Odell Beckham Jr., who had a sensational rookie campaign (which we’ll get into greater detail later on).
The New York passing game just got scarier with the addition of running back Shane Vereen. Vereen is more often used for his catching prowess rather than his rushing abilities; he had 52 receptions for 447 yards and three receiving touchdowns for Tom Brady and the Patriots last season. In contrast, he only had 391 yards on the ground in 96 carries.
The addition of Vereen is a nice complement to starter Rashad Jennings in the running game and also provides Manning with yet another viable option in short-to-mid yardage situations. And yet in spite of such a daunting array of arsenal on offense, New York did little to enhance its pieces on defense this offseason and is banking on returning players from injury instead.
Cornerback Prince Amukamara played exceptionally well last season by recording three picks before missing out the second half of the season due to his torn biceps. Amukamara is now healthy and back to man the opposite side of the field with his fellow corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. However, he has to remain in top condition to prevent the Giants D from leaking. The Giants surrendered 25 or more points in each of their last six games of 2014 – resulting to a paltry 3-3 record to cap the season off.
Another key defensive piece that’s coming off of an injury – albeit from a freak incident during the offseason – is defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. New York’s coveted pass rusher registered 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last year, but his value suddenly blew up into smithereens when he lost his index finger from a fireworks mishap during the Fourth of July. If the Giants’ pass rush takes a dip this year, point the severed finger of blame in JPP’s direction.
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Key Player – Odell Beckham Jr.
Going back to the subject of the Giants’ underwhelming end to last season, one player – on the other hand – seemed to have found fuel to his fire during that stretch.
Rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had surreal numbers in that same six-game span to close the season with 60 receptions for 842 yards and nine touchdowns. It’s no shocker then that New York scored no less than 24 points in those contests thanks to Beckham’s production.
OBJ would go on to finish his inaugural season in the NFL with 1,305 receiving yards and 12 trips to the end zone. He even posted these numbers in just 12 games, so just imagine what he could do in a full season in his sophomore campaign. Rest assure that the young Pro Bowl selection and Offensive Rookie of the Year will be a huge factor to New York’s success for years to come.
Key Game – vs. New England (November 15)
Finishing third in the division last season means the Giants will have a relatively weak schedule this 2015. The team will only play four games against playoff teams from last year: New England, Carolina and reigning NFC East champs Dallas (twice). Even better, those games against the Pats and the Panthers are at home.
Specifically, the match against the Patriots before New York’s bye week will be a crucial one. The Giants could very well have five or six wins in the bank before their Week 10 rendezvous with the Pats, and a win over their Super Bowl rivals would only solidify their claim as a true postseason contender.
The Giants have had New England’s number lately, winning the past three meetings including those two Super Bowls mentioned earlier. Tom Brady will also be ready for that midseason encounter, so there will be no excuses for the Patriots if they were to fall against Eli Manning and Co. once more.
Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case Scenario
New York’s sizzling aerial assault propels the team towards more than just 8.5 wins this season and ultimately earn a playoff berth either as a division winner or as a wild card. Manning receives some MVP recognition, and so does OBJ for the Offensive Player of the Year award. The defense also plays some inspired football en route to the team’s third Super Bowl trip in the past decade.
Worst Case Scenario
Beckham suffers a sophomore slump, and Eli and the Giants pay costly for his regression. The defense continues to give up massive yardage and points – no thanks to Pierre-Paul’s hand in the game (or lack of it, physically). Another third place finish in the crowded NFC East.
Complete Schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | @ Dallas | 8:30 PM |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | Atlanta | 1:00 PM |
| 3 | Thu, Sep 24 | Washington | 8:25 PM |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | Buffalo | 1:00 PM |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 11 | San Francisco | 8:30 PM |
| 6 | Mon, Oct 19 | @ Philadelphia | 8:30 PM |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | Dallas | 4:25 PM |
| 8 | Sun, Nov 1 | @ New Orleans | 2:00 PM |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | @ Tampa Bay | 5:05 PM |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | New England | 5:25 PM |
| 11 | Bye Week | ||
| 12 | Sun, Nov 29 | @ Washington | 2:00 PM |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | N. Y. Jets | 2:00 PM |
| 14 | Mon, Dec 14 | @ Miami | 9:30 PM |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | Carolina | 2:00 PM |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | @ Minnesota | 2:00 PM |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | Philadelphia | 2:00 PM |
Writer’s Prediction
The Giants reclaim the NFC East crown with an 11-5 record, but will fall to a much more balanced team like Seattle or Green Bay in the divisional round of the playoffs.
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