Giants vs. Washington on TNF makes SI's list of top games
Big Blue has some interesting games on its schedule for the upcoming season, including showdowns on Monday Night Football against both participants from Super Bowl LV.
But the games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not the Giants' only matchups under the primetime lights this year.
Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr ranked his top 15 games to look forward to in the 2021 season, and coming in at No. 7 is the Giants' Week 2 matchup against the Washington Football Team on Thursday Night Football.
The Giants and Washington came down to the wire in the NFC East race last year, but Washington controlled its own fate, something the Giants hope to do this season. Big Blue has won five consecutive games against Washington dating back to the 2018 season, with the last three wins coming by a combined 10 points total, including a thrilling overtime win during Week 16 of the 2019 campaign.
Here is Orr's full list of the top games of 2021:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots (Sunday Night Football), Week 3
2. Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders, Week 5
3. Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday Night Football), Week 17
4. Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens (Sunday Night Football), Week 2
5. New York Jets at Carolina Panthers, Week 1
6. San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams, Week 18
7. New York Giants at Washington Football Team (Thursday Night Football), Week 2
8. Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals (Thursday Night Football), Week 4
9. Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars (London), Week 6
10. Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans (Thursday Night Football), Week 3
11. Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Week 2
12. Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, Week 12
13. Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday Night Football), Week 7
14. Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams, Week 7
15. Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (Sunday Night Football), Week 17
How tough is the Giants' schedule? Click to view each team's strength of schedule for the 2021 season based on the records of their opponents from 2020.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Strength of Schedule: .574
2. Baltimore Ravens
Strength of Schedule: .563
3. Chicago Bears
Strength of Schedule: .550
2021 Matchup: Giants at Bears
4. Green Bay Packers
Strength of Schedule: .542
5. Minnesota Vikings
Strength of Schedule: .531
T6. Cincinnati Bengals
Strength of Schedule: .529
T6. Detroit Lions
Strength of Schedule: .529
8. Las Vegas Raiders
Strength of Schedule: .526
2021 Matchup: Raiders at Giants
9. Cleveland Browns
Strength of Schedule: .518
10. Los Angeles Rams
Strength of Schedule: .515
2021 Matchup: Rams at Giants
T11. Kansas City Chiefs
Strength of Schedule: .511
2021 Matchup: Giants at Chiefs
T11. Seattle Seahawks
Strength of Schedule: .511
T13. Tennessee Titans
Strength of Schedule: .507
T13. Arizona Cardinals
Strength of Schedule: .507
T15. Washington Football Team
Strength of Schedule: .504
2021 Matchup: Washington at Giants, Giants at Washington
T15. Houston Texans
Strength of Schedule: .504
17. Los Angeles Chargers
Strength of Schedule: .493
2021 Matchup: Giants at Chargers
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
Strength of Schedule: .491
T19. San Francisco 49ers
Strength of Schedule: .489
T19. New York Jets
Strength of Schedule: .489
T19. New England Patriots
Strength of Schedule: .489
22. New Orleans Saints
Strength of Schedule: .483
2021 Matchup: Giants at Saints
T23. Buffalo Bills
Strength of Schedule: .478
T23. Indianapolis Colts
Strength of Schedule: .478
25. New York Giants
Strength of Schedule: .474
26. Carolina Panthers
Strength of Schedule: .472
2021 Matchup: Panthers at Giants
T27. Denver Broncos
Strength of Schedule: .471
2021 Matchup: Broncos at Giants
T27. Miami Dolphins
Strength of Schedule: .471
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Strength of Schedule: .465
2021 Matchup: Giants at Buccaneers
30. Atlanta Falcons
Strength of Schedule: .454
2021 Matchup: Falcons at Giants
31. Dallas Cowboys
Strength of Schedule: .452
2021 Matchup: Cowboys at Giants, Giants at Cowboys
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Strength of Schedule: .430
2021 Matchup: Eagles at Giants, Giants at Eagles
Giants announce jersey numbers for rookie class
The Giants have had a busy offseason.
After welcoming a class of free agent signings at the start of the new league year, the Giants selected six players in the 2021 NFL Draft to join the roster before signing three undrafted rookie free agents.
Here is the list of the rookies' new numbers:
- WR Kadarius Toney: 89
- LB Azeez Ojulari: 51
- CB Aaron Robinson: 33
- LB Elerson Smith: 58
- RB Gary Brightwell: 37
- CB Rodarius Williams: 25
- C Brett Heggie: 61
- G Jake Burton: 70
- DE Raymond Johnson III: 91
*Jersey numbers are always subject to change.
Photos: Giants rookies get fitted for equipment
Kadarius Toney, Azeez Ojulari and the rest of the Giants' 2021 rookie class arrived in East Rutherford, NJ on Thursday for the team's rookie minicamp.
Check out the gallery below to view the rookies' first day at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
View photos of the Giants' 2021 class getting fitted for equipment after arriving at rookie minicamp.
Single Game Tickets
A limited number of Giants 2021 single game tickets are on sale now
