The Giants' toughest game is at Seattle in Week 10.
- **
We take a look at opposing playmakers on the Giants' 2014 schedule
Week 1: WR Calvin Johnson, Lions
Week 1: RB Reggie Bush, Lions
Week 1: QB Matthew Stafford, Lions
Week 1: DT Ndamukong Suh, Lions
Week 2: WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
Week 2: CB Patrick Peterson, Cardinals
Week 2: DE Darnell Dockett, Cardinals
Week 2: LB John Abraham, Cardinals
Week 3: DE J.J. Watt, Texans
Week 3: RB Arian Foster, Texans
Week 3: WR Andre Johnson, Texans
Week 4/15: QB Robert Griffin III, Redskins
Week 4/15: RB Alfred Morris, Redskins
Week 4/15: WR DeSean Jackson, Redskins
Week 4/15: OLB Brian Orakpo, Redskins
Week 4/15: WR Pierre Garçon, Redskins
Week 5: QB Matt Ryan, Falcons
Week 5: WR Roddy White, Falcons
Week 5: WR Julio Jones, Falcons
Week 6/17: RB LeSean McCoy, Eagles
Week 6/17: OT Jason Peters, Eagles
Week 6/17: RB Darren Sproles, Eagles
Week 6/17: QB Nick Foles, Eagles
Week 7/12: TE Jason Witten, Cowboys
Week 7/12: WR Dez Bryant, Cowboys
Week 7/12: QB Tony Romo, Cowboys
Week 9: QB Andrew Luck, Colts
Week 9: OLB Robert Mathis, Colts
Week 9: WR Reggie Wayne, Colts
Week 10: CB Richard Sherman, Seahawks
Week 10: RB Marshawn Lynch, Sehawks
Week 10: QB Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Week 10: WR Percy Harvin, Seahawks
Week 10: S Kam Chancellor, Seahawks
Week 10: S Earl Thomas, Seahawks
Week 11: QB Colin Kaepernick, 49ers
Week 11: DT Justin Smith, 49ers
Week 11: LB Patrick Willis, 49ers
Week 11: OT Joe Staley, 49ers
Week 11: LB NaVorro Bowman, 49ers
Week 11: TE Vernon Davis, 49ers
Week 11: LB Ahmad Brooks, 49ers
Week 11: S Eric Reid, 49ers
Week 11: RB Frank Gore, 49ers
Week 13: LB Paul Posluszny, Jaguars
Week 14: DT Jurrell Casey, Titans
Week 14: WR/KR Dexter McCluster, Titans
Week 16: LB James Laurinaitis, Rams
Week 16: DE Robert Quinn, Rams
Week 16: DE Chris Long, Rams
MICHAEL EISEN: Fact* - **Yes, that's an asterisk. It's easy to say in April that the Giants most difficult challenge will be facing the Super Bowl champions – who shut them out last December - 3,000 miles from home on a short week. But the game won't be played this month. Who knows what the circumstances will be in November? Maybe the Seahawks will suffer a championship hangover and never recover. Maybe the Giants will be the league's hottest team and the Seahawks will look at it as their toughest game. Speculating the relative strengths of two teams more than six months before they face each other is an exercise in futility.
- JOHN SCHMEELK: Fact -This is simple. The Giants are playing the defending Super Bowl Champions on the road, which also happens to be one of the toughest places to win in the NFL. Oh yeah, the game is also coming off a Monday night game. Trouble.
- DAN SALOMONE: Fact -Let's start with the simple fact that it's an away game. Including the playoffs, Seattle is 27-8 at their home of the "12th man" since Pete Carroll took over in 2010. Then there are the tangibles. We all know how dominant they have been no matter the location, and it will be a true test of where the Giants stack up in the NFC.
The primetime game you're most interested in seeing is Giants vs. Colts.
- **
Let's take a look at some of the most memorable 'Monday Night Football' games in team history.
Oct. 27, 1986 (Giants 27, Redskins 20) - Football fans at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., watch the seventh game of the World Series on mini television sets when the Giants played and beat the Washington Redskins.
Oct. 25, 2010 (Giants 41, Cowboys 35) - In the game that Dallas quarterback Tony Romo broke his collarbone, the Giants scored on five straight drives and held on to win 41-35 in Arlington, Texas.
Sept. 19, 2005 (Giants 27, Saints 10) - Because of damage to the Superdome caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Saints were given a "home" game at Giants Stadium by the league. The Giants scored first and never lost the lead in the 27-10 victory.
Sept. 11, 1989 (Giants 27, Redskins 24) - After a dominant first half by the Giants defense, Raul Allegre kicked a 52-yd field goal as time expired to seal a 27-24 victor over Washington.
Dec. 1, 1986 (Giants 21, 49ers 17) - Tight end Mark Bavaro cemented his reputation as one of the toughest men in the NFL. With the Giants trailing, Bavaro caught a pass from Phil Simms over the middle, and it took nearly seven 49ers defenders to finally drag him down, including future Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott. Bavaro's play ignited the Giants, who won the game and eventually the Super Bowl.
Oct. 14, 1991 (Giants 23, Steelers 20) - Matt Bahr kicked a 44-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to seal the victory and halt the Steelers' fourth-quarter comeback bid.
Nov. 21, 1994 (Giants 13, Oilers 10) - The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak for the 1994 Giants, who won their final six contests beginning with that game.
Oct. 2, 1972 (Giants 27, Eagles (12) - Norm Snead threw three touchdowns and Ron Johnson ran for 124 yards and a score in the Giants' first Monday Night Football victory.
Dec. 21, 2009 (Giants 45, Redskins 12) - The Giants led 24-0 at halftime, the largest shutout halftime lead on Monday Night Football since 2005. The 45 points remain the most scored by the Giants in a Monday game.
Nov. 28, 2011 at New Orleans/Dec. 3, 2012 at Washington - In the two Monday Night Football games Cruz has played on the road, he has found tremendous success. Cruz has 14 catches for 261 yards (18.6 yard average) and two touchdowns as a visitor on MNF, with a long catch of 72 yards that resulted in a touchdown against the Saints.
MICHAEL EISEN: Fiction - **The prime time game I am most interested in seeing is the Sept. 8 Monday night opener in Detroit. It's the next Giants game that counts in the standings. That's really the only game to focus on now.
- JOHN SCHMEELK: Fiction -I'm excited about the season opener against the Lions for obvious reasons, but also because the Lions could be a dark horse team this year. With a new coach, they might be able to turn their talent into more wins this year. It will also be an early season test for the Giants revamped secondary against the best wide receiver in the league, Calvin Johnson. I'm also excited to see what progress the Redskins have made with the addition of Desean Jackson and the health of Robert Griffin III. In fact the Giants have three primetime games against all their division teams this year. Success in those games will go a long way towards determining the season's success.
- DAN SALOMONE: Fiction -I think the whole former teammate angle gets overdone, and Hakeem Nicks coming back to town will probably be no different. I'm looking at the Sunday night game against Dallas in Week 12. Capping a four-game stretch that includes Indianapolis, Seattle, and San Francisco, the Dallas game will set the tone for the final push one way or another.
Out of the opponents that had losing records last season, Atlanta will be the most improved.
- MICHAEL EISEN: Fiction -I'm picking Washington, which has a new coach and a presumably healthy RG3. That team has talent, but was beset with too much strife and controversy in Mike Shanahan's final season in D.C. Assuming Jay Gruden is a competent coach, they have the ingredients for a quick turnaround.
- JOHN SCHMEELK: Fact -The return of Julio Jones, a healthier Roddy White and the addition of at least two quality players in the draft will make Atlanta much better. The Texans are also in the mix here, but their quarterback situation still leaves too many questions. Also, don't sleep on the Rams, who could be fighting for a wild card spot this year if Sam Bradford finally comes into his own.
- DAN SALOMONE: Fact -Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Falcons last season. Before they knew it, they were 1-4, 2-9, and then finished 4-12. The season was gone before it could get started for an Atlanta team that was 56-22 with Matt Ryan as its starting quarterback and had the best record in 2012. These things happen in the NFL. They are now regrouping and hold the sixth overall draft pick. They will rise up.
The NFC East title will once again come down to Week 17.
- MICHAEL EISEN: Fact -Why should this season be any different?
- JOHN SCHMEELK: Fact -This division is going to be tight once again with three teams being in the mix in the last few weeks. Which ones? Who knows. Everyone thought the Eagles would finish in last in 2013 and they ended up winning the division. The NFC East still has a bunch of teams that are very evenly matched.
- DAN SALOMONE: Fact -I made the mistake last season thinking it would finally be the year a team runs away with the division. I won't make it again. Philadelphia won't be a one-hit wonder under Chip Kelly. Washington seemingly can only go up from last season under their new coach. Dallas just needs to add some pieces on defense to complement the offense. And the New York Giants will always be contenders under Tom Coughlin. It may not be the best division, but the NFC East is up there as the most competitive.
