The 2011 schedule for the New York Giants was as tough as it got. It included games against teams they beat en route to another Super Bowl win such as the Packers, Patriots and 49ers. Throw in the usual division games against Dallas, Philly, Washington, throw in the Saints and it can make for a headache of a season.
2012 won’t be the season the G-Men catch a break, as they easily have the toughest schedule in the NFL. Forget about the good on paper teams, the Giants play the NFC South which not only includes the Saints and Falcons but improved Panthers and Bucs teams. Stopping Cam Newton and covering Vincent Jackson will be tough tasks to handle against Carolina and Tampa respectively.
An NFC Championship rematch at the 49ers and hosting an NFC Divisional round rematch with the Packers only adds to the toughness.
Throw in the fact that the Eagles got hot towards the end of last year, Dallas is always tough and add Robert Griffin III onto the fact the Redskins swept the Giants last year, New York has, as always, 6 tough division games. The G-Men also play the always-tough AFC North division which includes Ravens and Bengals on the road and home games against the Steelers and probably the only on paper “gimme” on the schedule, the Cleveland Browns.
Here’s the schedule in its entirety:
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| Sept. 5 (Wed) | Dallas Cowboys | 8:30 PM | NBC |
| Sept. 16 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Sept. 20 (Thurs) | @ Carolina Panthers | 8:20 PM | NFLN |
| Sept. 30 | @ Philadelphia Eagles | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| Oct. 7 | Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| Oct. 14 | @ San Francisco 49ers | 4:15 PM | FOX |
| Oct. 21 | Washington Redskins | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Oct. 28 | @ Dallas Cowboys | 4:15 PM | FOX |
| Nov. 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 4:15 PM | CBS |
| Nov. 11 | @ Cincinnati Bengals | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Nov. 18 | BYE | ||
| Nov. 25 | Green Bay Packers | 8:20 PM* | NBC |
| Dec. 3 (Mon) | @ Washington Redskins | 8:30 PM | ESPN |
| Dec. 9 | New Orleans | 4:15 PM* | FOX |
| Dec. 16 | @ Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM* | FOX |
| Dec. 23 | @ Baltimore Ravens | 1:00 PM* | FOX |
| Dec. 30 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1:00 PM* | FOX |
I’m not complaining or worried about the schedule by any means. In fact I say bring it on, as I’m quite sure Tom Coughlin as well as the rest of the Giants would agree with me.
If you can’t beat these teams in the regular season then you have no business being in the playoffs. The Giants had the toughest schedule last year and look where they ended up.
Only 4 more months to go until kickoff!
