Remaining Giants’ schedule poses challenges for reinging champions

Through a three-game winning streak, the New York Giants have recently established a consistent high level of play and stranglehold on the NFC East. However, as of last Sunday they’ve also concluded the easiest portion of their schedule and now begin a stretch that could shake their solid start.

Over the remaining ten weeks of the season the Giants will entertain just four more home games and take on some of the best the NFL has to offer. Three of the contests in New York will be against playoff teams from a year ago and the last will feature the Eagles, who beat the Giants back on September 30th. The only other club able to stake that claim so far in 2012 is Dallas, who gets the first shot at the reigning champs this weekend.

While the Cowboys have been models of inconsistency since their opening night win, their pass defense has been spectacular, good for third in the league. This is likely to cause problems for Eli Manning on Sunday, given he compiled just 213 yards passing in the first meeting. A week later the rugged Pittsburgh Steelers come to MetLife Stadium, bearing the NFL’s No. 2 defense against the pass.

Then, after a game in Cinncinati and the team’s bye week on November 18th, the Giants pick up play after Thanksgiving against the explosive Green Bay Packers. Next, the team will travel south on I-95 to Washington for a tough Monday Night showdown with the Redskins. The ensuing short week of preparation sets the table for a match with the high-powered Saints on December 9th, trailed by a difficult trip to Atlanta.

The currently undefeated Falcons figure to give the G-Men a rough go, as do the Ravens who host the Giants immediately afterward in Week 16. New York’s year wraps up a week later at home against Philadelphia with potential playoff positioning on the line. The Giants have not beaten the Eagles at home since 2007.