Predicting The Critical 2024 New York Giants Schedule: Weeks 5-8

The Giants have not been to Atlanta in six seasons, which will change in 2024. The Falcons may have signed Kirk Cousins this offseason, but they then turned and drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick, casting a deeper shadow over the cloud that already surrounds the circumstances that brought Cousins to Atlanta, to begin with.

Nonetheless, the Falcons will continue to be favorites to win what should remain the NFL’s weakest division in the NFC South, and Cousins will be an integral part of that plan for Atlanta. Cousins, who last met the Giants on Wild Card Weekend 2022 and lost, would love to gain revenge on Big Blue with this game.

Week 6: Philadelphia Eagles

Tensions will likely be quite high for Saquon Barkley’s first return to East Rutherford. This matchup, in the middle of October, will also be a departure from the past few seasons of the NFL scheduling Eagles-Giants matchups in the last month of the season. This matchup will be must-watch television, regardless of where in the season it ends up.

Both clubs had solid drafts, but the Eagles had a far better outcome overall in the 2024 draft, especially by drafting both of the best Cornerbacks in the class with the 22nd and 40th picks. The Giants may have had Phialdelphia’s number in Week 18 of 2023, but the Eagles will return to East Rutherford looking to shake off their shocking 2023 collapse in much better shape.

Week 7: Bye

The Giants have not had a pre-November bye week since their 2017 campaign, and in 2024, that could very well change. If Daniel Jones hasn’t been fully cleared by this point, this will be the week that Jones can finally step back into the starting lineup.

That is, unless Drew Lock is able to perform at a level that shows Brian Daboll that he should remain starter.

Week 8: At Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for not one, but two quarterbacks this offseason. The Giants had talks with Russell Wilson, but the Steelers also met and eventually traded for Wilson. Justin Fields also joined the Steelers during this offseason, and there are already potential plans in place to move the former Ohio State alum to Kick Returner for 2024.

The Giants will arrive at Acrisure Stadium having not defeated the Steelers since 2008. The Steelers did have a draft that some, including Terry Hanratty, believe is Pittsburgh’s “best since 1974”:

“I think it might be the best draft they’ve had since 1974. We’ll refresh our fans, the 1974 draft produced five Hall Of Famers. You got [Lynn] Swann, [Jack] Lambert, [John] Stallworth, [Mike] Webster, and Donnie Shell. The first four were selections, Shell was signed as a free agent. Obviously the backbone of our Super Bowl runs.”

However, the quarterback situation for Pittsburgh arguably is about as unclear as the Giants’ situation, as how Russell Wilson will handle another new situation in his age-36 season remains to be seen. The Giants might just end their streak of losing to the Steelers in this contest.