New York Giants: The 5 Most Intriguing Games for Big Blue in 2011

Looking ahead, but how far?

The New York Giants have their opponents, but will the stadiums be opened this season to let them play?

If the lockout does end and football fans get to watch their favorite teams on the gridiron, then Big Blue fans are in for a real treat this season, as the Giants find themselves staring the AFC East in the face.

The last time the NFC and AFC East locked up, the Giants went on to win every road game on their way to a Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots.

With September nearing, let's take a look at the most anticipated and intriguing games of the season.

Kyle McMorrow, a Correspondent for Bleacher Report, is a freelance writer and news production assistant for 1010 WINS Radio in New York City. He has also worked for the Big Ten Network and ABC-TV in New York City. Kyle McMorrow has interviewed numerous prominent athletes, such as Larry Fitzgerald, Eli Manning and LaDainian Tomlinson.Twitter: @Kyle_McMorrow

WEEK 9: NEW YORK GIANTS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Catch

How many of you circled this game when the schedules were released?

Trust me, you weren't alone.

In the first rematch since the Giants improbable Super Bowl victory, the New England Patriots travel to New Jersey to take on the team who denied them of perfection.

The Giants dethroned and dismantled a very powerful and heavily favored, Patriots team on that special night in 2008, and the two teams haven’t seen each other in a meaningful game since.

That all will change on Nov. 6.

Most of the important pieces remain the same, such as quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady, as well as head coaches Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick, making this game a must-see for any Giants fan, casual or hardcore.

WEEK 11: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW YORK GIANTS

How do you not punt it out of bounds?

The season gets interesting for the G-Men in a big way as they host the Eagles for the first time since the now infamous "Miracle at the Meadowlands Part Two" fiasco, that featured a 21-point blown lead in the fourth quarter that was capped off by a game-ending punt return by Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

The Giants need this game to shake off two factors that will influence the entire season:

1) They must prove they can beat the Eagles with Michael Vick under center.

 Last season, the Giants dropped both games to the Eagles, and allowed a total of 65 points.

2) The Giants need to re-establish themselves as the best of the best in the ever-competitive NFC East.

The Eagles were clearly the cream of the crop last year in the division, and the only way to be the best is to beat the best, and why not do so on a national stage during Sunday night football?

WEEK 13: GREEN BAY PACKERS @ NEW YORK GIANTS

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is congratulated by Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants after their game at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Giants will host the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers on Dec. 4, nearly a year after the Packers jolted the Giants playoff hopes in a blowout victory.

Giants' safety Antrel Rolle summarized his feelings to Yahoo Sports about Aaron Rodgers after the game. 

“I don’t ever want to face him again in my life.  I am dead serious. I’ll face Drew Brees any day of the week before I face him again. That dude is scary."

Well, Mr.Rolle, I hope you have a pair of big boy pants and a jock strap because you have a date with destiny approaching quickly.

If the Giants want some type of redemption from last season, they can find it here as the champs are a big reason why they missed the playoffs last year.

WEEK 16: NEW YORK GIANTS @ NEW YORK JETS

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is a large part (no pun intended) of the reason why this matchup has become so interesting.

Gang Green seems to have become green with envy ever since Ryan has taken over the Jets' pilot seat, and things have only gotten worse since.

Ryan has insisted the Jets are the "better team" and are the Giants "big brother," even though it's the G-Men who took home the Lombardi trophy in 2007-08.

Although they meet every preseason, this game will carry all the bragging rights and either shut Rex Ryan up or give him enough ammunition to last a lifetime.

WEEK 17:DALLAS COWBOYS @ NEW YORK GIANTS

This game has playoff implications written all over it.

Every season the Dallas Cowboys are seen has a favorite to not only win the division, but the Super Bowl as well, and this year could very well be that year.

There is no denying there is talent there, and with Jason Garrett taking over the head coaching duties, the Cowboys look like they will be competing all year.

A season-ending division game is always sweet, punching your postseason ticket, while shredding theirs is priceless.