James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

7 reasons Giants' schedule is tougher than you think

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James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

It's not exactly a piece of cake

We recently ranked the five toughest games on the Giants' 2016 schedule, and some fans have argued the strength of this year's slate is being overrated.

We wouldn't go that far, though. Click through the slideshow for seven reasons why the Giants' 2016 schedule is tougher than you think.

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Rodger Mallison | Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS

Tough start

The Giants have not won a season opener since 2010. In those five Week 1 games since then:

• They are 0-4 against NFC East rivals and in road games

• They are 0-3 against the Cowboys, 0-2 on the road

The Giants' Week 1 game in 2016? The Cowboys in Arlington, Texas.

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Derick E. Hingle | USA TODAY Sports

Drew Brees

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has dominated the Giants in his career, and he had a record-setting performance against them last season. So he won't be a pleasant sight for them during their Week 2 home opener.

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Brace Hemmelgarn | USA TODAY Sports

Brutal stretch

The NFL schedule makers did the Giants no favors in Weeks 3-6.

The Giants will host the Redskins in a pivotal Week 3 divisional game, then will be on the road in primetime against the Vikings (Week 4) and Packers (Week 5), with the trip to Green Bay coming on a short week. They then come home for Week 6 against the Ravens.

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Nick Wass | AP Photo

Objects closer than they appear

Speaking of the Ravens, they are one of several teams coming off bad 2015 seasons the Giants cannot take lightly. Baltimore was ravaged by injuries last year and should be much improved.

The Bears (home, Week 11) could be a surprise playoff contender. And the Lions (home, Week 15) went 7-9 in 2015, but they were snakebitten and could have been 9-7 or 10-6.

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Charles LeClaire | USA TODAY Sports

4 games against Top 10, 3 on the road

The Giants will play four teams widely considered among the top 10 in the NFL this season: The Vikings (Week 4), Packers (Week 5), Bengals (Week 10) and Steelers (Week 13). Only the Bengals come to MetLife Stadium.

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Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports

London calling

Going to London to play a game is not a major obstacle, but it is a challenge. Any out-of-the-ordinary situation in the NFL is a challenge. And the Rams will not be a pushover on Oct. 23 at Twickenham Stadium.

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Bill Streicher | USA TODAY Sports

End of the road

The Giants play five of their first seven games after their Week 8 bye week at home, one of the positives of their schedule. But they will need to close out any playoff berth on the road.

The Giants have back-to-back divisional road games to end the season. They are at the Eagles in Week 16, and at the Redskins in Week 17.