Are the Giants an Underdog That Could Win the Super Bowl

The New York Giants have endured some rough seasons over the past few years. The G-Men are just 12-36 over the last three seasons, including a 4-12 campaign in 2019. However, that doesn’t preclude them from turning things around in 2020. Just look at the San Francisco 49ers, who were 4-12 and 2018 but just one quarter away from winning the Super Bowl last season. Despite having NFL betting odds of +8000 odds to win the Super Bowl, could the Giants be an underdog that’s capable of winning the Super Bowl this year? Let’s take a closer look at their chances.

Defensive Reinforcements

Defensively, the Giants have had their fair share of problems in recent years. But they have a chance to turn things around in 2020. During the offseason, the Giants upgraded with linebacker Blake Martinez and cornerback James Bradberry. They join the likes of Markus Golden and Jabrill Peppers to help shore up New York’s linebacker corps and secondary. Meanwhile, the Giants could have one of the best defensive lines in the league. Keep in mind the Giants traded for Leonard Williams last season and used their first-round pick in 2019 on Dexter Lawrence. Together, those two could be a force in the trenches that improves the rest of the New York defense.

Offensive Reload

The biggest thing holding the Giants back in recent years has been the team’s offensive line. New York has finally addressed that problem by drafting Andrew Thomas in the first round and Matt Peart in the third round of this year’s draft. Both rookies are capable of starting Week 1 and being an upgrade from last year’s offensive line. If the Giants fix their problems on the offensive line, they have the skill players to do serious damage. With a solid offensive line, Saquon Barkley could be one of the best running backs in the NFL. Also, when healthy, the likes of Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, Darius Slayton, and tight end Evan Engram give the Giants a formidable set of receivers.

The Curious Case of Daniel Jones

Of course, the x-factor for the Giants is quarterback Daniel Jones. Despite leading the NFL in fumbles last season, in part because of a weak offensive line, Jones flashed potential at times. Considering the supporting cast around him, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns over 12 starts isn’t half bad for a rookie. With some experience under his belt and more help around him, especially from the offensive line, Jones could take a big step forward in 2020 and finally get the Giants turned around.

The Verdict

Can the Giants become a Super Bowl contender despite +8000 odds at the start of the season? Crazier things have happened, but don’t bet on it. Currently NFL consensus is that the Giants have made some positive movements, but don’t count on them playing in February. Even with a few nice additions to the defense, the Giants still don’t have the personnel to be a top-10 defense. Meanwhile, there are just too many uncertainties with the offense. Will the two rookies on the offensive line be ready to play right away? Will Jones build off of last year’s performance? Can new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett make an immediate impact? The Giants need positive answers to all of those questions until they can be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender.