Giant Test Awaits New York in Week 1

We're going to find out a lot about just how far the Giants have come under head coach Joe Judge and his staff Monday night when they take the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Giants open a new chapter on Monday night at MetLife Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers; the first opponent of the Joe Judge era.

However, Pittsburgh's blend of top-tier talent and veteran experience makes them a tough out for any team, especially one as young and unproven as the 2020 Giants.

Can the Giants make a statement? Here's why they might be able to impress doubters on Monday night.

Offensive Firepower

Barring any injury surprises, Week 1 might mark the first time that the Giants' main core of offensive skill players will take the field as a whole unit.

Quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Saquon Barkley, tight end Evan Engram and wide receivers Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and Golden Tate have yet to be on the field at the same time for the Giants

Tate is the one variable that will determine whether that vision will come to fruition on Monday, as he was listed as a limited participant in practice in Thursday on the Giants' first injury report.  

But if Tate is good to go, then Giants fans could get their first taste at what the unit looks like in totality.

"We got a lot of guys who can make players," Jones said. "All those guys bring something different to the table and allow us to attack defenses in a lot of ways. We'll look to utilize guys' strengths, and it will be exciting to get out there on the field.

"This is the first opportunity we have to show what we've been working on, to show what we can be as an offense this season and we're excited to do that."

It All Starts Up Front

The Giants' offense is going to need all of its playmakers considering what it's up against. The Steelers finished with the sixth-best defense in the NFL in 2019, and they are coming at full strength at well.

Pro Football Focus expects this year's Steelers defense to be even better than last year, ranking it third in the NFL. 

PFF's Top 3 Defenses heading into 2020:

1. Niners
2. Ravens
3. Steelers

Which duo are you riding with? pic.twitter.com/CDiL4c7NLP

— PFF (@PFF) September 3, 2020

Pittsburgh's defense is highlighted by its front seven, one that led the NFL in sacks last year. Edge rushers T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, inside linebackers Devin Bush and Vince Williams, and defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward spearheaded the team's pass rush last year. All of them are back with the Steelers to face the Giants on Monday night.

"You look at their defense, it starts up front with those guys," Jones said. "You look at, like you said, Watt and all those guys up front can make plays. As an offense, as a quarterback, we have to make sure we’re executing, that I’m understanding where to go with the ball, getting the ball out on time, and making sure we’re sharp from that perspective."

The Giants will need a solid showing from their offensive line if they hope to take advantage of their weapons in this game. That isn't something they've gotten very much in recent years.

The Giants offensive line has given up 90 combined sacks over the past two years, which has resulted in a significant makeover this season.

Offensive guards Kevin Zeitler and Will Hernandez are the only returning starters from last year's unit. Hernandez is the longest-tenured Giants offensive lineman in general with just two seasons under his belt.

Against Pittsburgh, the Giants are projected to roll out their first starting offensive line combination of rookie Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Hernandez at left guard, Nick Gates at center, Zeitler at right guard, and veteran free-agent signing Cameron Fleming at right tackle.

The unit will be tested in their debut against one of the most dominant defensive fronts in the NFL.

"Everyone on that front seven is really good," Gates said. "Watt, those edge guys are really good. The linebackers are really good. They’re just all good. It’s a really good front. Watt, he’s really good at getting after the QB and trying to get the ball out."

Gates, who is projected to make his debut at center, will have to be the main communicator on the offensive line against Pittsburgh's dominant front in just his first game at the position.

Gates' effectiveness in his debut will go a long way in determining how well the Giants' offense can function against Pittsburgh. For Gates, the last few days have seen extensive hours of preparation for the task, and he's even had some assistance by backup center Spencer Pulley.

"[Spencer and I] got to watch more film than most of the other guys," Gates said. "Me and Spencer came in on Tuesday on our off day and probably watched film for about 2-3 hours extra."

The Defensive Challenge

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, the Giants' defense will face some pretty lofty challenges itself.

Pittsburgh's offense, led by veteran quarterback ben Roethlisberger, finished as a top-10 unit for five straight years from 2014-18. Last year the offense fell off after Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2.

The 38-year-old Roethlisberger is set to make his official return from the injury against a Giants defense with a brand new scheme.

The Giants defensive front will look to put their own pressure on Roethlisberger and challenge the Steelers' veteran offensive line.

Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson is projected to anchor the interior of the Giants' defensive front, and he will battle Pittsburgh's interior offensive line combination of center Maurkice Pouncey and guards David DeCastro and Matt Feiler.

"You try to pick up on all the tendencies from each offensive lineman especially in the interior for me," Tomlinson said. "I watched a lot of film on Pouncey and things like that so I'm super excited."

The Giants defensive line has an opportunity to make their own impact on the game, as Tomlinson, along with Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, proved to be an effective run-stuffing tandem at the end of last season.

With added chemistry in the group, and an emphasis on finishing pass rushes enforced by the coaching tactics of new defensive line coach Sean Spencer, the unit will look to compound it run-stuffing ability with quarterback pressure.