Steven Ryan | Getty Images

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By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Giants are mired in the doldrums of a disastrous 1-5 start, after being demolished by the Eagles 34-13 on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, in which it couldn't have been made more obvious how different courses these NFC East franchises are taking.

Regardless of the fact that Eli Manning struggled to get anything going, and Saquon Barkley accounted for 229 yards and one touchdown, the offense couldn't move the football and the defense couldn't avoid giving up a big play.

Things look bleak for the Giants ahead of Week 6 in Atlanta, and it's worth wondering just how many potential wins remain on the schedule.

Here's our take:

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Week 7: At Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons were a trendy pick to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIII prior to the season, but the defense has been decimated by injuries. Playing the Falcons on a Monday night, after a Thursday contest against the Eagles, just might be what the Giants need to pull off an upset and critical conference victory. However, if Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor are capable of going off for 165 yards and two touchdowns, what will Julio Jones and rookie sensation Calvin Ridley be able to do?

Prediction: LOSS

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Week 8: vs. Washington

The Saints exposed Washington's flaws, and just how terrible the NFC East is as a whole, in a 43-19 victory on Monday Night Football. These aren't Lombardi's Packers or Knoll's Steelers coming to MetLife Stadium ...

Prediction: WIN

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It's time for the Giants to play Kyle Lauletta

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media f

Fletcher Cox hits Eli Manning as he throws during the New York Giants Week 5 game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. 10/11/18 East Rutherford, N.J. John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Week 10: at San Francisco 49ers

Coming off a bye week, if the Giants are unable to beat either the Falcons or Washington, there could be a groundswell for Kyle Lauletta to make his debut in San Francisco against the 49ers. Regardless of who is at quarterback for the Giants, this is a tough spot. Especially given the 49ers' pass-rush up front.

Prediction: LOSS

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Week 11 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers don't resemble much of the team that jumped out to a 2-0 start to the season with victories over the New Orleans Saints and Eagles in the first two weeks. By this point, Jameis Winston will have started six games, and just might get the Buccaneers offense in a groove.

PREDICTION: LOSS

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Week 12 at Eagles

Thursday night showed just how far away these two franchises are, and how different their futures look. We might look back on the 2018 season and say that the Eagles found their championship footing on a rainy Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, but by this juncture it's anyone's guess just how invested most of the Giants roster will be in this divisional game.

PREDICTION: LOSS

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Studs and Duds from Giants' disastrous 34-13 loss to Eagles

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Julio Cortez

Eagles Giants Football

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Week 13 vs. Chicago Bears

The Bears were my pick to make the playoffs as an NFC wild card, before they acquired Khalil Mack and established themselves as one of the more ferocious defenses in the league. If the Giants couldn't move the ball against the Eagles, Saints, or Cowboys, they're in for a real struggle against Chicago.

PREDICTION: LOSS

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Week 14 at Washington

Sometimes in the NFL, it comes down to which team both needs the game and wants the game more. In a late-season NFC East matchup, amid a division race that the Giants could have been long eliminated from, Washington has the edge in both pivotal intangibles as well as home field ...

PREDICTION: LOSS

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Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans

The Titans have a franchise quarterback, and are squarely in the division race for the AFC South crown. However, the Giants might be catching Tennessee in a great spot, having hosted their physical division rival Jacksonville Jaguars the prior week. Call it a hunch, but the Giants could steal a letdown game from the Titans, here ...

PREDICTION: WIN

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Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts

The Colts ... Arguably the only team in the NFL with more depth concerns, and issues than the Giants have right now. Yes, the Colts have Andrew Luck behind center, but they have so little else, that it will take a minor miracle for head coach Frank Reich to have his team fully invested at this juncture. Perhaps Kyle Lauletta will be a spark in this game. Or Saquon Barkley might account for 250 yards of total offense and two scores ...

PREDICTION: WIN

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Week 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys secondary played one of their best games in recent memory against the Giants back in Week 2, making Odell Beckham completely irrelevant. Likewise, the Cowboys might still have something to play for in this game, while we have established here, that in all likelihood the Giants will not ...

PREDICTION: LOSS

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Final Record:

4-12

The Giants improve by one win by season's end, but will it really feel like an improvement, given the expectations around Pat Shurmur's hire and the impact Saquon Barkley and the offseason additions were expected to bring.

Oh, the irony, if a meaningless victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Christmas weekend take the Giants out of the first-three picks in the NFL Draft, and the potential to select Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, West Virginia's Will Grier, or Auburn's Jarrett Stidham ...

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HOW TO REACH ME:

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoNFL