Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: H-Town G-Fan on May 16, 2024, 10:30:06 AMI think Weeks 3 to 7 are pretty rough. Each of those teams were above .500 in 2023. The Browns, Cowboys, and Eagles were well above that, winning 11, 12, and 11 games (respectively). Bengals were 9-8 with Joe Burrow only starting 10 games. Seahawks are usually a tough team and its an away game. I don't know what you define as killer, but the Giants could easily go 0-5 during that stretch.

There is no question that the stretch you described is the hardest part of the Giants' season.  I think Dallas took a step back.  The Bengals might be, though, but I think that is TBD, as are the Browns and Seahawks (in my view).   So there is a potential that could be a killer stretch, but I don't think it's a sure thing.  Heck, I am not even sure I could say it's the likely outcome.

https://x.com/giantswfan/status/1790895186232414465

WHAT NFL EXECUTIVES LOOK FOR
The team president, general manager and coaches will pay close attention to the spacing of home and away games. They prefer not to have three in a row on the road. The bye week is also of great interest, with the preference for it being around Week 8 or 9 at the midpoint of the regular season.

Thursday night, Monday night, Thanksgiving Day and late-season Saturday games require changing the normal schedule teams have for a Sunday afternoon game. Those non-Sunday games solicit a mixed reaction from team execs. They enjoy seeing their team in the spotlight during prime-time games that most players and the fan base love, but they understand the disruption those games cause compared with the regular weekly schedule.

Team execs, coaches and the team operations staff members will quickly check the 2024 schedule for potential hot- or cold-weather games. Those are an extra challenge in terms of travel concerns and planning for things such as cooling or heating equipment in the bench area at outdoor stadiums.

I was the Minnesota Vikings' director of team operations early in my career, so I know very well that immediately upon the schedule coming out, the team operations staff will begin to set up travel plans. Those include negotiating with airlines and hotels on the road, as well as with the in-town team hotel for the night before home games.

That group also sets up team buses and equipment trucks for road games and obtains extra security and police escorts. In some cases, teams will make arrangements to practice in the road city on the day before a game, so the team operations staff will coordinate that, too.

Much more from former GM Jamie Diamond

https://www.the33rdteam.com/how-team-executives-approach-nfl-schedule-release/

As ever, it's not who you play it's when you play them.

It's a great opportunity to start against JJ or Darnold and then following up against Daniels.

These kids might be the real deal but they might also need time to bed in.

I also like the idea of finishing against, Indy, Atlanta and then an Eagles team who ought to be in the playoffs already.

Still a lot can happen between now and week 18 but right now, in May, I think it's a decent slate.

I think Atlanta is going to be tuff this year. I think they are going to be a good team with QB Cousins and Giants playing in their stadium. The good part is, it will be much warmer there than the NE.

Quote from: miss86 on May 16, 2024, 08:35:59 PMI think Atlanta is going to be tuff this year. I think they are going to be a good team with QB Cousins and Giants playing in their stadium. The good part is, it will be much warmer there than the NE.

I agree about Atlanta. They have some legit weapons, and now they will finally have competent QB play. Could be an interesting team this year. I won't be surprised at all if they win that division.

Quote from: miss86 on May 16, 2024, 08:35:59 PMI think Atlanta is going to be tuff this year. I think they are going to be a good team with QB Cousins and Giants playing in their stadium. The good part is, it will be much warmer there than the NE.

The Falcons would have been tougher had they not used their first-round pick on Penix.  It's not like the team can play two QBs at once.

Quote from: MightyGiants on May 17, 2024, 11:34:31 AMThe Falcons would have been tougher had they not used their first-round pick on Penix.  It's not like the team can play two QBs at once.

I truly don't understand this pick. It smacks of a panic but I see no reason for them to panic in that spot. May turn out an okay start but right now, to me at least, it looks bizarre.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on May 17, 2024, 03:44:33 PMI truly don't understand this pick. It smacks of a panic but I see no reason for them to panic in that spot. May turn out an okay start but right now, to me at least, it looks bizarre.

The epitome of both hubris and stupidity. If the Giants win only one game in 24 I want it to be against the Falcons.

Quote from: katkavage on May 17, 2024, 04:23:57 PMThe epitome of both hubris and stupidity. If the Giants win only one game in 24 I want it to be against the Falcons.

Sorry Kat, if we win only one game I would pray it is over the Cowpukes and make it mean something to them.