Can the New York Giants Become a Smart Super Bowl Bet in 2021?

The New York Giants carry a meager +6600 to winning the Super Bowl in 2021, according to the online sportsbook BetOnline. So does this mean you should steer clear of them?

Hey, dark horses can always emerge, so perhaps you’re looking at the New York Giants to be your dark horse in 2021?

If that’s the case, today’s post is for you. Today, we will discuss whether the Giants are a good bet to win Super Bowl LVI. We will give you a rundown on how their offseason went, the improvements they made to both the offense and defense, and whether that can translate into a Lombardi Trophy.

Are you ready to learn more about the Giants?

Keep reading to find out more. 

The New York Giants Offseason

The New York Giants ranked 31st in total offense in 2020, with quarterback Daniel regressing as the season went on. It’s obvious that Jones is facing a make-or-break season in 2021, but the Giants at least gave him some help.

For one, running back Saquon Barkley returns from an ACL injury that sidelined him throughout 2020. And for another, the Giants went out and signed Kenny Golladay, who was a WR1 in Detroit during his time with the Lions.

It’s also worth noting that the Giants defense played well in 2020, finishing 12th in total defense, 16th in passing, and 10th in rushing defense. They also ranked 9th in points allowed. But, it didn’t mean they’d take their foot off the gas.

Corner Adoree Jackson signed with the team, as did Ifeadi Odenigbo, and linebacker Reggie Ragland, 3 reliable role players. Also, defensive tackle Danny Shelton, a journeyman who has seen success in Cleveland, New England, and Detroit, also signed.

With the improvements made to the defense, expect the Giants to improve on that side of the ball and give Jones even more chances to succeed in 2021.

Welcome to Big Blue, Kadarius Toney!

📰: https://t.co/adBaI41Xxg pic.twitter.com/TCL4j7BtDQ

— New York Giants (@Giants) April 30, 2021

They also drafted receiver Kadarius Toney in the first round, so they have more than just Golladay available to give Jones a tick.

The Giants had a good offseason overall. And on paper, it should help Jones return to the quarterback he was during his rookie season. 

The New York Giants Offense

The New York Giants offense revolves not around Jones, but the returning Saquon Barkley. Barkley tore his ACL in Week 2 of 2020, and it could have contributed to Jones’ backslide. If that’s the case, and with the beefed-up talent at receiver, expect a comeback season from both Jones and Barkley.

If these 2 can manage, then the Giants will easily look like a better team than they were a season ago.

Hey, they’ve done this twice in the past with Eli Manning and Company. So at least history is on their side. But on paper, these are better football teams than the New York Giants of yesteryear. Just look at that receiving unit without Golladay and Toney.

They still have tight end Evan Engram, who was finally healthy for all 16 games. Kyle Rudolph also joins in the fun and he will make a viable TE2. Then there is the receiving unit for Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and even John Ross, who gets a chance at redemption in New York.

However, when you look at the offensive line, it’s a major cause for concern. Their intended anchor, Nate Solder, is returning after taking the year off, but even before he signed he was on the back nine of his career.

Andrew Thomas will take over at left tackle but he was unspectacular as a fourth overall pick in 2020. Ditto for Nick Gates, but unlike Thomas, the Giants picked him up as an undrafted free agent. They also have Will Hernandez, who has been a disappointment.

However, Shane Lemieux and Matt Peart were surprised on the line. Especially Lemieux, who the Giants drafted in the fifth round. Like Thomas, both were rookies in 2020, but they outplayed their draft status. If Thomas gets it together, and Hernandez bounces back, the Giants can overachieve up front. 

The New York Giants Defense

As noted, the New York Giants defense kept this team afloat in 2020. And that was especially important after Jones proved he could not handle life without Barkley.

Their defensive line was rock solid, with Leonard Williams stepping up and providing 11.5 sacks. Dexter Lawrence, who was so-so in 2019, made The Leap in 2020 and contributed with 4 sacks. However, not only did the Giants have a good pass rush, but they were also hard to gain yards on through the air.

It started with the aggression coming from Jabrill Peppers and Logan Ryan, one of the NFL’s more dynamic safety duos. They also have a Swiss Army Knife in Xavier McKinney, so a three-man rotation at safety will pay dividends if everyone stays healthy.

James Bradberry loves to get in your way 😌 pic.twitter.com/cRYv2wXgVT

— New York Giants (@Giants) July 12, 2021

James Bradberry has a terrific season at corner, and the former Pro Bowler could take his game to another level if former Tennessee Titan Adoree Jackson bounces back after flaming out in Nashville.

Heading over to linebacker, and Mr. Irrelevant Tae Crowder suddenly became relevant during his rookie season in 2020. Now, he’s slated to start at inside linebacker, a role he fell into last season when healthy. It doesn’t say much, but he’s on pace to become the most successful Mr. Irrelevant in NFL History.

Perhaps no one is a bigger tackling machine in the NFL than inside linebacker Blake Martinez. Since 2017, he has never logged fewer than 100 tackles and is perhaps the league’s most underrated linebacker, having never earned a Pro Bowl nod.

Oshane Ximines could develop into the team’s best pass rusher, but injuries have kept the third-year pro from maximizing his ability. Ditto for Lorenzo Carter.

Without them, the Giants still logged 40 sacks. So you can only imagine what this defense will look like if their pass rushers remain healthy. Once again, the Giants can surprise a lot of teams out there if their pass rush improves even more than it did in 2020.

As for special teams, the Giants have one of the league’s most accurate kickers in Graham Gano. Gano converted 31 of 32 field goals in 2020, so expect the team to comfortably rely on him when they find themselves in a game-winning situation.

And they may need Gano more than you think, given the inconsistency shown by punter Riley Dixon. If Dixon improves his punting ability, the Giants may be alright. But he was one reason opponents often had short fields to work with in 2020.  

Can the Giants Become a Smart Super Bowl Bet?

If the New York Giants have one huge advantage, it’s that they’ve shown they can compete even when starters go down. This often occurs when teams do not have to pay top dollars for incumbent starters, which leads to less of a talent gap between first and second-string players.

That said, a strong gap continues to exist between incumbent starting quarterback Daniel Jones and his backups in Joe Webb III and Mike Glennon. So if you believe the New York Giants are a good dark horse Super Bowl bet in 2021, Jones must remain healthy.

And to be honest, if Barkley remains healthy, Jones will give the Giants a legitimate chance to win more games than they did in 2020 and contend for a playoff spot. The problem is, the NFC West is so good, that the Giants may need to win their division just to get to the playoffs.

However, with more talent among the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Football Team, don’t expect the Giants to contend for the division championship after winning such few games in 2020.

They need to improve on offense if they stand any chance at just making the playoffs, so if you think they can, then perhaps place a modest bet on them. Take a flyer, but it’s probably not in your best interest to over-bet on this team.

If you feel they cannot win their division in 2021, it’s best to look elsewhere when you’re looking for a solid bet to win the Super Bowl. Even if you’re looking to bet a nominal amount on a team with long odds.     

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Conclusion

It makes it or breaks it for Daniel Jones, but at least he has his offensive centerpiece back in Saquon Barkley. If Barkley returns and continues to dominate, the Giants have a solid chance to overachieve and make the playoffs.

And again, if one team has done this before in NFL history, it’s the Giants. Yeah, so if you bet on them back in 2007 and 2011, then perhaps a three-peat is in order. But it’s a new season, and it will be hard for this team to make the playoffs if they finish any lower than #1 in the NFC East.

What are your thoughts on the New York Giants?

Are they legitimate Super Bowl bets in 2021?

Tell us your thoughts in the comments.