Now that we know the full New York Giants 2026-2027 schedule, it is time for us to ask you how optimistic you are about the coming season. Vote in the poll at the bottom of the post to let us know how many games you believe the Giants will win in John Harbaugh’s first season as head coach.
Chris came away with a 10-7 record in a very optimistic game-by-game predictions post on Thursday night.
Valentine’s View
Chris had a turn at looking into his crystal ball. Since I am asking you guys to vote, it is only fair that
I go on record with my own game-by-game predictions. This will admittedly be the most optimistic prediction I can make. So, here goes:
Week 1: Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football, Sept. 13, 8:20 p.m., NBC)
Win: 1-0 … This is the optimist in me looking for a good start to the Harbaugh era. This game could easily go the other way.
Week 2: @ Los Angeles Rams (Monday Night Football, Sept. 21, 8:15 p.m., ESPN)
Loss: 1-1
Week 3: Tennessee Titans (Sept. 27, 1 p.m., CBS)
Win: 2-1 … I can’t pick Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll to return to MetLife Stadium and win — something they rarely did as head coaches in that building.
Week 4: Arizona Cardinals (Oct. 4, 1 p.m., CBS)
Win: 3-1 … The Giants need a good start to the season, and I think they get it. Whether they can maintain it is another story.
Week 5: @ Washington Commanders (Oct. 11, 1 p.m., FOX)
Loss: 3-2
Week 6: New Orleans Saints (Oct. 18, 1 p.m., FOX)
Win: 4-2 … Jaxson Dart and the Giants exorcise the ghost of last year’s five-turnover game.
Week 7: @ Houston Texans (Oct. 25, 1 p.m., FOX)
Loss: 4-3
Week 9: @ Philadelphis Eagles (Nov. 8, 1 p.m., FOX)
Loss: 4-4 … As much as I want to predict a win, and believe the Eagles won’t be the powerhouse this year they have been in recent seasons, I can’t pick the Giants to go into Philly and win for a second straight season.
Week 10: Commanders (Thursday Night Football, Nov. 12, 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video)
Win: 5-4
Week 11: Jacksonville Jaguars (Nov. 22, 1 p.m., CBS)
Win: 6-4 … Maybe I am underestimating how good Jacksonville is, but there is almost always one game a team wins that it probably shouldn’t. For the Giants, I am pegging this as that game.
Week 12: @ Indianapolis Colts (Nov. 29, 1 p.m., FOX)
Win: 7-4 … Sorry, Daniel Jones.
Week 13: San Francisco 49ers (Dec. 6, 1 p.m., FOX)
Loss: 7-5
Week 14: @ Seattle Seahawks (Dec. 13, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
Loss: 7-6 … No, the Giants are not going to Seattle and beating the defending champs.
Week 15: Cleveland Browns (Dec. 20, 1 p.m., CBS)
Win: 8-6 … Could this be the last game the Giants win during the upcoming season? Maybe.
Week 16: @ Detroit Lions (Monday Night Football, Dec. 28, 8:15 p.m., ESPN)
Loss: 8-7
Week 17: @ Cowboys (Jan. 3, 1 p.m., FOX)
Loss: 8-8
Week 18: Eagles (TBD)
Win: 9-8 … I think the Giants are going to win only one of their final three games, and I go with this one. That gives the Giants one win against each NFC East team.
FINAL THOUGHTS: As I said above, this is the most optimistic prediction I can credibly make. I believe the roster is marginally better, and the coaching is clearly better. I think, though, if you are expecting a turnaround like the New England Patriots had last season you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
This could easily be a six-win season, though I think that is the floor. Maybe this can be a 10-win season if some unexpctedly good things happen, but I can’t in good conscience go there in a prediction. Most likely, I think Harbaugh’s first year falls in the seven- to nine-win range.
Other predictions
National analysts are clearly not as optimistic as Chris and I want to be.
Daily News (Leonard): 5-12
FOX Sports (Vacchiano): 7-10
Bleacher Report (Davenport): 9-8
Sports Illustrated (Manzano): 7-10
The Athletic (Carroll): 6-11
