Almost every season, it seems, an NFL team that finished last the year before wins their division. That team isn’t expected to be the New York Giants, who finished 3-14 last season, per the experts at ESPN.
The Giants are being given just a 3.3 percent chance of going “worst-to-first” and a 10.1 percent chance of qualifying for the NFC Playoffs.
It’s a little surprising that FPI doesn’t have the Giants lower, as they are currently 27th in the NFL after being 31st before the 2024 season. But their QB room — with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart — should be an improvement over the options they had last season. I also expect them to have a better defense, which had a very poor turnover rate last season and adds edge rusher Abdul Carter to an exciting pass rush.
The problem for New York is the schedule, rated as the toughest in the NFL based on both FPI and projected DVOA. That starts with the games in the Giants’ own division, which now has a strong Commanders team, along with games against the NFC North and AFC West. Plus, the Giants play the 49ers and Patriots, who are both mentioned above as teams that should be better in 2025.
Valid points on all sides, but the truth of the matter is the Giants have had little success against division rivals Philadelphia and Dallas over the past decade. Big Blue has come up small against the Cowboys, losing 15 of the last 16 meetings. Against the Eagles, they’ve only managed to win three times in 17 tries since 2017, including playoffs.
With Philadelphia the reigning Super Bowl champions and Washington making it to the NFC Championship Game last year, the Giants will have a long climb out of the NFC East cellar.