The Giants’ full schedule for 2022 was released Thursday night. Here are the highlights and what to expect from Weeks 1-18 this season.
Three most difficult games
Week 1 in Tennessee
Could the schedule manager have given Brian Daboll a tougher start with the Giants? The Titans were 12-5 in 2021 and running back Derrick Henry will locate and bully any weakness in any defense. At least there’s a great barbecue in Nashville.
Week 5 vs. Packers
The Giants take advantage of their unblemished record (2-0) in the UK for their first match at the chic Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Facing Aaron Rodgers and the Packers is never a picnic, but having this game in London – where the Giants always have plenty of fan support – instead of Green Bay and the heart of Cheesehead country should be a plus.
Week 12 in Dallas
Playing at home on Thanksgiving is an annual rite for the Cowboys — they’re 31-21-1 on Turkey Day — and the Giants haven’t played this holiday since 2017. The Giants have lost five games in suite at AT&T Stadium and nine out of 10 overall. to the Cowboys.
Three easiest games
Week 2 vs. Panthers
There is always a sense of renewal for a home opener and there will be no fear in the building seeing Sam Darnold arrive at MetLife Stadium. How many Kayvon Thibodeaux n°5 jerseys will be spotted in the seats?
Week 11 against the Lions
Those who have been around the building for a while fondly remember Dan Campbell as a broad-shouldered, hard-blocking Giants tight end. The Lions were 3-13 in Campbell’s first season as head coach in Detroit.
Week 13 vs. Commanders
Daniel Jones is 4-1 as a starting quarterback against Washington and 8-24 against everyone else. The Giants will be coming off an extended hiatus, playing this game on 10 days off.
Notable games
Week 6 vs. Ravens
Wink Martindale, the Giants’ new defensive coordinator, has spent the past decade with the Ravens, the past four years leading the defense. Now he can try what so many of his peers find so difficult to do: containing the dangerous Lamar Jackson.
Week 8 in Seattle
What’s so special about a game against a regressing Seahawks team? Well, it’s a long, long trip west and the Giants will be coming off a road game in Jacksonville. Back-to-back trips, with the second leg at 2,400 miles, aren’t easy on muscles and joints.
Week 14 vs. Eagles
Daboll has served as an assistant with six different NFL teams, all in the AFC. He knows the divisional rivalries, but this will be his first introduction to the particular hostility inherent in this hate party.
Where is the Bye?
The bye comes in Week 9. The Giants could have asked for a bye after their Week 5 international, but chose not to. Obviously, Daboll didn’t want the break to come so early in the season.
Overall takeout
There are only two nationally televised games (both against the Cowboys) for the Giants, which is a good thing considering they’ve lost their last 10 nationally televised games. With the first home games against the Panthers and Bears, there is a chance for a good start. Home for the holidays isn’t the theme this year, with games on the road on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve in Minneapolis. Well, kidding. At least the Giants are home on New Year’s Day against the Colts. The Giants don’t face two NFL East rivals, the Eagles and Commanders, until December, and they have an incredible late streak of four straight divisional games. They also have three of their last four games on the road. Not ideal.
New York Post