2016 New York Giants season
The New York Giants season was the franchise's 92nd season in the National Football League, their seventh season playing their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and the first under head coach Ben McAdoo.
The Giants began 2–0 before falling into a three-game losing streak to the Redskins, Vikings and Packers. The Giants rebounded and went on a six-game winning streak for the first time since 2010, before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13. The Giants then upset the 11–1 Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 to improve to 9–4. With their Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys, the Giants clinched a winning season for the first time since 2012 and also swept the Cowboys for the first time since 2011. The Giants got their 10th win of the season in Week 15, having a 10 win season for the first time since 2010. Their 7–1 record at home is their best home record since MetLife Stadium opened in 2010.
Despite losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' loss to the New Orleans Saints meant the Giants clinched a playoff trip for the first time since their last Super Bowl season in 2011.
The Giants' first playoff game since Super Bowl XLVI ended in disappointment, as they were upended by the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round at Lambeau Field. The Giants only managed to score 13 points and allowed a season high 38 points, ending their season.
Offseason
Free agents signed
Draft
;Note:- The Giants conditionally traded their seventh-round selection to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for punter Brad Wing.
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
| 1 | August 12 | Miami Dolphins | L 10–27 | 0–1 | MetLife Stadium | |
| 2 | August 20 | at Buffalo Bills | L 0–21 | 0–2 | New Era Field | |
| 3 | August 27 | at New York Jets | W 21–20 | 1–2 | MetLife Stadium | |
| 4 | September 1 | New England Patriots | W 17–9 | 2–2 | MetLife Stadium |
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.Postseason
| Playoff round | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | Network | NFL.com recap |
| Wild Card | January 8, 2017 | at Green Bay Packers | L 13–38 | 0–1 | Lambeau Field | Fox |
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys
The Giants won at AT&T Stadium for the first time since 2012 and started 1–0 for the first time since 2010.With the return of Victor Cruz, the Giants fought hard with Dak Prescott and his game. Cruz had 4 catches for 34 yards and a touchdown for his first game since of the injury in 2014. On the last play of the game, Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams caught a pass that put Dallas into field goal range but didn't run out of bounds, allowing a Giants win.
Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints
Oddly enough, this was a low scoring game in contrast to last year's game against the Saints, who won in a high scoring contest against the Giants 52–49.Despite both offenses struggling, the Giants drove down the field and Josh Brown kicked the game-winning field goal improving the Giants to 2–0 for the first time since 2009.
Week 3: vs. Washington Redskins
It was the first time in the season that the Giants face the Redskins, who added Josh Norman. Over the last nine months, Odell Beckham Jr. and Norman had a fierce rivalry between each other. After Eli Manning threw an interception early in the fourth quarter, Beckham was seen striking the kicking net in frustration. The Redskins, who were 0–2 this season, picked off Manning again at the last second to seal a 29–27 Washington victory, which stunned MetLife Stadium. This was the only home loss the Giants suffered in the 2016 season.Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings
This was the second straight season that the Giants traveled to Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Giants 49–17 in Week 16 of last season.The loss dropped the Giants to 2–2 and into a tie with the Redskins in last place in the NFC East.
Eli Manning has had at least a giveaway in each of the first 4 games as he threw an interception.
Week 5: at Green Bay Packers
This was the first time the Giants have returned to Lambeau Field since their victory over the Packers in the Divisional Round of the 2011 Playoffs. This game was featured on Sunday Night Football. The Packers defense dominated the game, holding Eli Manning to one touchdown and 199 yards, and the Giants running backs were only able to rush for 43 yards in 15 attempts. At this point in the season, the Giants offense ranked 27th in total scoring.Week 6: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Hoping to stop a three-game losing streak, the Giants hosted the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of their 33–14 loss in 2012. Eli Manning threw his 300th career touchdown to Roger Lewis late in the second quarter. The Giants stormed on points with an Odell Beckham Jr. 75-yard touchdown followed by a Justin Tucker field goal to make the game 20–16. The Giants then stopped Terrance West on 4th and goal early in the 4th quarter. Late in the 4th quarter, the Ravens drove down the field and scored making the game 23–20. Eli Manning and the Giants responded with Eli completing a 66-yard touchdown to Beckham to make the score 27–23. The Ravens drove down the field but were stopped with Joe Flacco throwing an incompletion in the final seconds allowing the Giants to break their three-game losing streak. The Giants improved to 3–3, and their all-time record against the Ravens improved to 2–4. This win was also the Giants 700th win in franchise history. This game started a six-game winning streak for the Giants that would last until Week 13.Week 7: at Los Angeles Rams
NFL International SeriesThe Giants started slow after a Larry Donnell fumble on the first play from scrimmage, allowing the Rams to score 10 points in their first two drives. The defense dominated the game with Landon Collins recording two interceptions, one for a touchdown. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also recorded two interceptions, including the game-winning interception. The defense also recorded three sacks in the win, improving the Giants' record to 4–3.
Week 9: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Giants quickly took a 14-point lead after two Carson Wentz interceptions in the first quarter and never gave up the lead. Despite a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter being intercepted, the Giants defense held the Eagles to incompletions in the red zone allowing the Giants to improve 5–3 and beat the Eagles at MetLife for the first time since Week 17 of the 2012 season and the first win over the Eagles since Week 8 in the 2013 season. The Eagles had their own missed opportunities, going 0-2 in 4th-down conversions in Giants territory and another field goal was blocked. To date, this is the last time Manning threw for four touchdowns.Week 10: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
After their win over the Eagles, the Giants stayed at home for a Monday night matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were coming back from London after their tie against the Redskins. Tom Coughlin, Justin Tuck, and Ernie Accorsi were inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor at halftime nursing a 14-10 lead. The Bengals quickly got 10 points and had a 6 point lead going into the 4th quarter. Sterling Shepard caught a touchdown on 4th and Goal to give the Giants a 21-20 lead. Their defense led by their vaunted pass rush took over and the offense successfully ran out the clock. The Giants improved to 6–3, their best start since the 2012 season.Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears
The Giants stayed at home for a matchup against the Chicago Bears. The Bears took a 16–9 lead at halftime. The Giants didn't allow a single point for the rest of the game. Jay Cutler threw a late interception to Landon Collins to seal the Giants' win. The Giants improved to 7–3 for the first time since their 2007 Super Bowl Championship season. The Giants also improved from their 6–10 campaigns from the last two years, and extended their winning streak to five consecutive games, their longest since 2010.Week 12: at Cleveland Browns
The Giants recorded a season-high six sacks in their win over the Browns, extending their winning streak to six games. Odell Beckham, Jr. caught six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Jason Pierre-Paul also had a touchdown on defense. This loss dropped the Browns to 0–12. The Giants also had their first six-game winning streak since 2008.Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Trying to win their seventh game in a row, the Giants travelled to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers' big three of Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The Giants fell flat as Eli Manning kept getting pressured and threw two interceptions, one in the red zone. The Giants lost 24–14, snapping their winning streak. The Steelers kicked a late field goal to seal the win but despite the loss, rookie Sterling Shepard got his sixth touchdown of the season. Eli Apple was a bright spot, recording both his first career fumble recovery and interception in the 3rdquarter.
Week 14: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Giants faced the 11–1 Dallas Cowboys. The game turned out to be a defensive battle against both teams. After allowing Terrance Williams to get wide open for a touchdown in the first quarter, the Giants defense did not allow a single point for the rest of the game. Dak Prescott was picked off twice by Leon Hall and Janoris Jenkins, who forced a Dez Bryant fumble on his only catch of the game. Despite Ezekiel Elliott rushing for 104 yards, the Giants held off an attempted rally late in the game and upset the Cowboys. With the win, the Giants improved to 9–4 and clinched a winning season for the first time since 2012. The Giants also swept the Cowboys for the first time since their 2011 Super Bowl-winning season.Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions
The Giants forced two turnovers deep in the red zone. The offense struggled, but was helped by a spectacular catch by Beckham Jr. in the 4th quarter. With the win, the Giants clinched a 10 win season for the first time since 2010.Week 16: at Philadelphia Eagles
The Giants were down 14-0 early after Manning threw a pick six. The Giants offense got going, but failed to convert on their scoring opportunities. Four Robbie Gould field goals weren't enough, and the Giants fell to the Eagles 24–19, dropping them to 10–5. The Giants also allowed the Dallas Cowboys to clinch the NFC East and clinch home field advantage through the playoffs. Despite the loss, the Giants clinched a playoff trip when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the New Orleans Saints 31–24 two days later.Week 17: at Washington Redskins
The Giants enter week 17 looking to bounce back from Week 16's loss against the Eagles. With this win, the Redskins were eliminated from the playoffs after previously winning the NFC East last season. The Giants finish 11-5 for the first time since the 2005 season and finish with at least 11 wins for the first time since 2008. As the Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions, the Giants Wildcard match was set to be against them at Lambeau Field.Postseason
NFC Wild Card Playoffs: at #4 Green Bay Packers
This game was fiercely competitive in a first half littered with warning signs. The Giants dominated the pace early, but couldn't capitalize due to critical wide receiver drops and could only muster a 6-0 lead. The Packers were up 7-6 going into halftime while those warning signs came to fruition; a last second hail mary from Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb increased the lead from 14-6. The second half was a disaster. The defense had a 4th down stop, and the offense quickly responded with a 41 yard touchdown pass from Manning to Tavarres King, making it 14-13. That was the closest the Giants would get. When Rodgers got the ball back, he carved the Giants top ranked defense to shreds, scoring the 24 unanswered points in the game's final 20 minutes. The Giants were subsequently knocked out the wild card round, thus ending their season. This was the final game Victor Cruz played as a Giant, as he was released on Feb 13. 2017.The Giants also drop to 2-1 in playoff games at Lambeau Field, having defeated the Packers at Lambeau Field in the 2007 and 2011 seasons en route to their Super Bowl XLII and XLVI victories.