New York Giants 2021 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

If the NY Giants are going to break a four-year postseason drought, there are five games on this year’s NFL schedule that are absolute must wins. 

Following a frenetic offseason in which the NY Giants were among the NFL’s biggest winners, this is a team that could be on the cusp of making the NFL Playoffs for the first time in four seasons, but there are several games New York must win along the way to make that possible.

The additions of wide receivers Kenny Golladay, first-round pick Kadarius Toney, and the return of running back Saquon Barkley should give quarterback Daniel Jones one of the more explosive supporting casts in the NFL and position him to take the kind of leap the organization is banking on him making in his third season.

But, will it be enough to win enough games to compete for the division title in what promises to be an improved NFC East?

5 games the Giants’ must win on their 2021 NFL schedule

5) vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are just one of two playoff teams from 2020 to visit MetLife Stadium, in what is a tissue-paper soft home schedule for the NY Giants, on paper.

Los Angeles should be more productive on offense, following the addition of quarterback Matthew Stafford in a blockbuster trade that sent Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions, and the Rams already boast one of the more dominant defensive lines, anchored by All-Pro Aaron Donald.

Last season, the Giants traveled to SoFi Stadium and hung with Goff and Co. in a 17-9 loss. However, with a healthy Barkley and the addition of Golladay, New York would seem to have the kind of firepower to hang with Stafford’s offense and dictate to Los Angeles’ defense up front.

This has the potential to be a legitimate measuring-stick game for just how close the Giants are to making the playoffs in head coach Joe Judge’s second season at the helm.