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The New York Giants are expected to be better in 2020 than they have been in recent years, but according to ESPN’s simulation model, they still won’t be good enough.
The Giants have won only 12 games over the past three seasons and by virtue have been loading up with young studs through the draft. With a new coaching staff and those younger players ready to take the “leap” in their careers, the simulation has the Giants finishing 7-9 this season.
Each preseason, we run 20,000 simulations of the entire slate with ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), our projection system. A lot goes into it, including expected starting quarterback, past performance, returning starters and projected win totals. The culmination is a strength rating for all 32 teams that helps us predict outcomes.
But today, only one of those sims matters: No. 3,869. We played out that single result across every game, giving us tight division races, QB controversies, breakouts and of course a Super Bowl LV champion. We also baked in NFL analyst Mike Clay’s player projections to give us stat leaders throughout the season.
The simulator has the Philadelphia Eagles winning the NFC East with a 10-6 record, followed by the Dallas Cowboys (9-7), the Giants and Washington (4-12).
Dallas goes on to defeat Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game, only to get blown out by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, 42-17.
Interestingly enough, the Giants begin the season 2-6 and finish strong by winning five of their final eight contests. They also pull off a rare season sweep of Philadelphia.
Here are the predicted game-by-game results for the Giants this year (home team in CAPS):
Week 1: Steelers 41, GIANTS 17
Week 2: Giants 23, BEARS 20
Week 3: 49ers 30, GIANTS 20
Week 4: RAMS 38, Giants 13
Week 5: COWBOYS 30, Giants 13
Week 6: Washington 31, GIANTS 3
Week 7: Giants 30, EAGLES 28
Week 8: Buccaneers 27, GIANTS 9
Week 9: Giants 34, WASHINGTON 23
Week 10: GIANTS 19, Eagles 13
Week 12: BENGALS 28, Giants 9
Week 13: SEAHAWKS 28, Giants 7
Week 14: GIANTS 25, Cardinals 21
Week 15: GIANTS 27, Browns 20
Week 16: RAVENS 28, Giants 10
Week 17: GIANTS 20, Dallas 13
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