NY Giants 2026 game-by-game predictions following NFL schedule release

NY Giants 2026 game-by-game predictions following NFL schedule release

We know, we know: it's way too soon to predict the outcome of every game on the Giants' regular season schedule, fresh off the NFL's unveiling Thursday night. Yes, even a bit ridiculous.

But sometimes you've got to have some fun.

One of the best parts of NFL schedules being released back in the day was when former WFAN Radio teammates Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo would go through them team by team, game by game, and predict wins and losses months before the season began.

It's essentially a fruitless exercise, of course, trying to figure out the winners and losers in games between teams that will look a lot different after being shaped over the next four months in advance of the 2026 regular season.

Make no mistake: there is optimism for the Giants entering John Harbaugh's first season as head coach. The schedule does not appear as daunting as it did one year ago, but this won't be a cake walk, either.

So, take these for what they are: my way-too-early game-by-game predictions of how the Giants will fare:

Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m., Sept. 13, NBC

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 at 8:20 p.m. ET

Week 2: Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:15 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.

Week 8: Bye week

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.

Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 12 at 8:15 p.m.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4:25 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m.

Week 16: Monday, Dec. 28 at 8:20 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3 at 4:25 p.m.

Week 18: Saturday, Jan. 9 or Sunday, Jan. 10 with time TBD

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 at 8:20 p.m. ET

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 at 8:20 p.m. ET

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 2: Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:15 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 8: Bye week

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 12 at 8:15 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4:25 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 16: Monday, Dec. 28 at 8:20 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3 at 4:25 p.m.

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NY Giants 2026 schedule and game-by-game opponents

Week 18: Saturday, Jan. 9 or Sunday, Jan. 10 with time TBD

This is the game that will set the tone: "Sunday Night Football" with Jaxson Dart against Dak Prescott, Big Blue hoping to pick up where they left off in the 2025 finale when they beat Prescott and the Cowboys for the first time since 2016. Expect both teams' defenses to be improved and undrafted rookie kicker Dominic Zvala - a surprise winner of the summer-long competition - boots the game-winner as time expires. An ironic finish to Harbaugh's first game as Giants' coach, considering the way his Ravens tenure ended with a missed FG by a UDFA rookie. Pick: Giants 23, Cowboys 21.

Week 2: at Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m., Sept. 21, ESPN

Talk about a tough task. This is the Rams' opener at SoFi Stadium after their Week 1 trip to Australia to face the 49ers. Matthew Stafford and his weapons are too much for the Giants' secondary. Pick: Rams 31, Giants 20

Week 3: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., Sept. 27, CBS

Brian Daboll vs. the Giants. Old friends Wan'Dale Robinson and Daniel Bellinger back in the building. Dart vs. Cam Ward. You can bet Big Blue will have this game circled, and it's a must to get on a bit of a roll early on. Pick: Giants 27, Titans 23.

Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m., Oct. 4, CBS

The Giants' run defense with D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris up front and Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese in the middle will be tested by Arizona rookie RB Jeremiyah Love. This will be the game that marks a distinct turnaround in that area. Pick: Giants 31, Cardinals 21.

Week 5: at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m., Oct. 11, FOX

The Giants' improved speed in the middle of the defense with Edmunds and Reese should help in containing Jayden Daniels. Washington swept the Giants last season, and that can't happen again. Pick: Giants 23, Commanders 20.

Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., Oct. 18, FOX

Dart's first loss as a pro came at the hands of the Saints in New Orleans. He's going to want to prove himself against QB Tyler Shough and the Saints, putting to rest any lingering debates over their competition as rookies a year ago. Pick: Giants 24, Saints 17.

Week 7: at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., Oct. 25, FOX

A lot of how well C.J. Stroud bounces back from the poor finish to last season will determine how we view this game when it happens. Houston's defensive front led by Will Anderson will challenge the Giants' offensive line. Pick: Texans 17, Giants 13.

Week 8: BYE WEEK

Week 9: at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m., Nov. 8, FOX

The Giants might catch Philly at the right time, with the Birds coming off consecutive prime time games against the Cowboys and the Commanders. At some point, Big Blue is going to win at the Linc again. Pick: Eagles 20, Giants 17.

Week 10: vs. Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m., Nov. 12, Amazon

Short week at home helps, and the Giants ride the MetLife crowd and a dominant defensive effort to sweep Washington, restoring order to what had been a one-sided rivalry until two years ago. Pick: Giants 17, Commanders 13.

Week 11: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., Nov. 22, CBS

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars were a great story last year under Liam Coen. North Jersey's own Anthony Campanile, his defensive coordinator, loves to bring pressure. But I think the Giants are built for that up front, and they'll run the football extremely well to pick up a stunning upset here. Pick: Giants 21, Jaguars 14.

Week 12: at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., Nov. 29, FOX

Daniel Jones is going to want to make a statement in this one, and that might just play in to the Giants' hands. Again, that improved run defense shows up and stops Jonathan Taylor enough for the win. Pick: Giants 24, Colts 21.

Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m., Dec. 6, FOX

The 49ers should take a step forward this year after struggling a year ago. Pick: 49ers 23, Giants 16.

Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m., Dec. 13, FOX

This is a tough spot for the Giants against the defending Super Bowl champions. Pick: Seahawks 30, Giants 22.

Week 15: vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., Dec. 20, CBS

Harbaugh gets the best of his old OC, the one he initially hoped to bring to the Giants, in Todd Monken before he got the Cleveland head coaching job. Pick: Giants 28, Browns 17.

Week 16: at Detroit Lions, 8:15 p.m., Dec. 28, ESPN

The Giants nearly won at Ford Field behind Jameis Winston's heroics last season, so this isn't a one-sided affair. Still, Detroit is a good team and they could be fighting for positioning in the NFC North. Pick: Lions 27, Giants 23.

Week 17: at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m., Jan. 3, 2027, FOX

It's hard to suggest the Giants are going to sweep Dallas, given the Cowboys' talent on the offensive side of the ball. Pick: Cowboys 34, Giants 27.

Week 18: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Jan. 9/10, TBD

This is the game that gets Harbaugh's team into the playoffs. Picture it: they're 9-7, the atmosphere at MetLife is the best it has been since the Cowboys' game in 2016 and Dart outplays Hurts again on his home turf for the signature win of his young career. Pick: Giants 31, Eagles 27.

New York Giants record prediction 2026

We've got the Giants finishing the 2026 NFL season at 10-7 and claiming an NFC wild card spot.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Giants predictions, picks for every game on 2026 NFL schedule