Obviously last year off the Super Bowl, the Giants opened at Metlife against Dallas and lost. A few weeks later they lost to Philly on the road which led to an 0-2 start in the division.
Later in the year, the Giants were in a very bad spot tiebreaker wise for the division with the Redskins & Cowboys. Often times we hear about how it's early and it's not a huge deal, but I'd argue it is. Losing early road division games aren't as bad as home division games, but I don't want to see this team start in a hole in the division again.
Looking back at the Giants last year, losing to Dallas, and on the road to Philly & Washington is what cost them a playoff spot.
How much importance is on the opening SNF game?
Every division game regardless of the spot on the schedule is monumentally important.
;)
I'd say it doesn't mean all that much.
Obviously you'd rather win the game and get off on the right foot. But it's not a huge deal either way. Just makes things a little easier.
;)
Only 37% of teams make the playoffs in a given year.
I know you were probably just making jokes - but I dont find Math jokes funny damnit.
16 * .523 = 8.368
16 * .227 = 3.632
8.368 + 3.632 = 12
The math only appears wrong if you don't understand math.
In any case, it's just one game. If the Giants had simply beaten Washington last year, the early losses in Dallas and Philly would have been forgotten.
Why people think something like that needs to add to 100% i have no idea.
37% of teams make the playoffs
Half the teams start 0-1 = 22%
Half the teams start 1-0 = 52%
Obviously you average the 22% and 52%... what does that get you? Miraculously... 37%
Last year's opener was far more important. Dropping home division games is far worse than dropping an opener on the road.
With that said, we made up for that by winning in Dallas...
problem last year was the awful Philly loss (OPI cost us the season, essentially). Dallas & Washington both played Philly 2x when they were in full out quit mode. We played them early in the year when they were at least competitive and beating teams like Baltimore too.
This team needs to not only FINISH but to play a 16 game season...not just the last few.
I want to see consistency of performance this season from opening day to week 17.
I want to see the Giants go 12-4 this year.
Take last year. Had the Giants won one or two of those opening division games and made the playoffs in all likelihood they get destroyed in the playoffs like they were in every "backs against the wall" game they faced last year.
It doesn't matter how you start (unless of course you play yourself out of the playoffs by week 8) what matters most is being reasonably healthy and playing your best ball when the weather gets colder.
If healthy, we'll be in the tourney imo
Giants fans especially should know better than to overrate the early games in the season. We're 6-2 just about every year and we miss the playoffs quite a bit from that position. On the other hand, we've been given up for dead much, much later in the season and gone on to win Super Bowls.
It's a division game. Every game matters. It might end up being really important at the end of the year. Or Dallas might end up sucking. Or we might end up sucking. If we no-show in the 2nd half of the year again, a win at Dallas probably won't mean that much. Or maybe it will. Who knows? But I'd recommend to do your best not to overreact.
For instance, last year when the Giants lost their opener to the Cowboys, I remember reading on here that Boomer said that loss could cost the Giants a shot at the play-offs. And I read here what an idiot he was for placing so much importance on the first game of the season.
1. Are you conceding a loss at home to Denver in Week 2?
2. What do you feel their division record will be?
There are some on BBI who have openly said the Giants will start 2013 at 0-2 and then win their next 7. If that is the case, than losing opening night means nothing.
But...if you feel that only 1 game is going to separate the 3 teams (Giants, Redskins and Cowboys), that you are better off stacking up the division wins as soon as possible to give you some leeway and avoiding all these "scenarios" in December rather than set up the whole season around winning the Week 17 game against the Redskins to make the playoffs.
Last year I was mad because we were the first superbowl champs in the last 12 years to lose opening night...
this year they need to redeem themselves... not just that night but this whole season... Eli wont be young forever.
You tell me.
You have to make the playoffs to have a shot and division games are very important factors in playoff scenarios. Pay attention weeks 15 - 17 in any season and this is obvious.
The easiest way into the playoffs is to win your division. The way to do that is win your division games.
The Redskins comeback from 3-6 to 10-6 was aided by them going 4-0 against the Eagles and Cowboys in addition to their win against us in December.
If we are trying to get the Giants to 10 wins, which we hope would safely win the NFC East, getting 4 division wins is important unless you believe the Giants are going to handle their business against the rest of the schedule.
1. Dallas is changing defensive schemes and has a new defensive coordinator. Being week 1 the Giants have to capitalize on defensive confusion that is far less likely to exist when they meet again week 12.
2. Early win on the road makes it easier to sweep Dallas when we get them again week 12 at home.
3. Continue our unbeaten streak in their new home.
Obvious is always in the eyes of the beholder.
Greg