The hype is starting already for the New York Giants this season. They were hoping to stay under-the-radar, but with all the stars on their roster and all the changes they have undergone, NFL pundits are finding them to be the trendy favorites in the NFC East this year.

“I told New York Giants fans that they can print the shirts: They’re going to win the NFC East,” veteran NFL analyst Bucky Brooks told FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd this week.

Brooks cited the return of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the addition of rookie running back Saquon Barkley as two reasons why the Giants will a team “to be reckoned with.”

Cowherd began the conversation by stating that the two hot young coaches in the league, Los Angeles’ Sean McVay and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan, have company this year.

“Pat Shurmur is one those guys,” said Cowherd. “He’s special. He made Case Keenum. He got MVP votes, and I don’t think either one of us thinks Case Keenum — ‘Case Closed’ — is an MVP vote guy.”

Brooks made his case for the Giants and it was fairly compelling. The division is ripe for the taking. The Giants toyed around in the preseason and finished 2-2. The other three teams looked awful.

Philadelphia may be the defending Super Bowl champs but they came a few minutes shy of going 0-4 this summer. Dallas did go 0-4 and Washington finished 1-3. Plus, both the Cowboys and Redskins are dealing with devastating injuries.

“Offensively, they are absolutely loaded,” said Brooks of the Giants. “I know people will talk about the questions of the offensive line. Are you confident that Nate Solder and Will Hernandez and the other additions can come together. I don’t know, but I do know the play calling is special and the play caller has given the quarterback enough weapons to be successful.

“Odell Beckham coming back really changes the game when it comes to their offense. It’s about a six point-per-game difference when he plays and when he’s not on the field. You think about how you want to defend this team. You have to start with No. 13. Are we going to double team him? How are we going to contain him, because he can go the distance at any point…with Saquon Barkley, a lot of people are going to focus on the rushing yards but that is the wrong way to look at him. He is a guy that you have to view like Todd Gurley, Le’Veon Bell, David Johnson. Look at the scrimmage yards — a combination of rushing yards and receiving yards. I believe he’s going to be over 100, that’s going to be productive enough.”

With all of that said, Brooks believes it will be the Giants’ defense that will be the determine factor this year.

“James Bettcher comes over from the Arizona Cardinals. People don’t realize but under his direction in Arizona, that defense finished in the top six every year. They’re going to blitz a lot, the pressure’s going to be immense. They’re going to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback to make decisions,” he said.

Brooks believes the Giants will look much different this year than in years past.

“I want to to think about how the Giants will play,” said Brooks. “Shurmur will be aggressive in first 15 plays to see if he can get a 10-0, 14-0 lead. the on defense, they can pressure the passer. It makes for balanced approached and makes you play on their terms.”

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