Giants have second-easiest strength of schedule in 2019

In spite of the incessant criticism, the New York Giants did make some strides in 2018. After setting a franchise mark for futility in 2017 at 3-13, the team went 5-11 last season. The odds are in their favor to continue this trend in 2019, as least according to their 2019 strength of schedule.

The Giants’ 2019 opponents collectively have the second-worst winning percentage in the NFL (.473) with a combined 2018 record of 120-134-2.

Each NFL team plays 16 regular season games. Since the league realignment in 2002, the NFL’s scheduling formula is as follows:

• Home and away against its three division opponents (six games)
• The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (four games)
• The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (four games)
• Two intra-conference games based on the prior year’s standings (two games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference division that the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year.

The Giants, naturally, will play home and away games against the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins.

In 2019, the NFC East will play against the AFC East (Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets) and NFC North (Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings). The Giants finished last in the NFC East in 2018 meaning they will play against the last place teams in the NFC South (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and NFC West (Arizona Cardinals).

The Giants will face the Bills, Cardinals, Dolphins, Packers, and Vikings at home. Their road games include trips to the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots, Bears, Lions, and Buccaneers. In addition, the Jets will “host” the Giants in the third regular season edition of the Snoopy Bowl.

The Giants will play four 2018 playoff teams (Bears, Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots). Five of their opponents (Bears, Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots, Vikings) were .500 or better last season.

The division could be competitive. Washington has the NFL’s easiest strength of schedule (.469, 119-135-2) with Philadelphia not too far behind (.477, 121-133-2). Dallas, the defending NFC East champion, has a .504 strength of schedule (128-126-2).

The 2019 NFL regular season will tentatively begin on Thursday, Sept. 5. Dates and times of the 256 regular season games have yet to be determined. The NFL regular season schedule is usually released on the third Thursday in April. In 2019, that date is Apr. 18.

– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the NFL and the New York Giants. Please like and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @CuRawls203.