The 2016 season was the New York Giants' 92nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 41st playing at The Meadowlands, their seventh playing at MetLife Stadium and their first under head coach Ben McAdoo.

After losing six games where they had late fourth-quarter leads in 2015, Jerry Reese spent over $200 million in free agency to revitalize their defense. He re-signed Jason Pierre-Paul to a one-year deal and signed Damon Harrison, Olivier Vernon and Janoris Jenkins. Cornerback Eli Apple was drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft.

The Giants began 2–0 before falling into a three-game losing streak to the Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. The Giants rebounded and went on a six-game winning streak for the first time since 2010, before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13. The Giants then upset the 11–1 Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 to improve to 9–4. With their Week 14 win over the Cowboys, the Giants clinched a winning season for the first time since 2012 and also swept the Cowboys for the first time since 2011. The Giants got their 10th win of the season in Week 15, having a 10-win season for the first time since 2010. Their 7–1 record at home is their best home record since MetLife Stadium opened in 2010.

Despite losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' loss to the New Orleans Saints two days later meant the Giants clinched a playoff trip for the first time since their last Super Bowl season in 2011.

The Giants' first playoff game since Super Bowl XLVI ended in disappointment, as they were upended by the Green Bay Packers 38–13 in the Wild Card round at Lambeau Field. Several media outlets criticized Giants' wide receivers Victor Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Roger Lewis after a picture surfaced on social media of the players on vacation on a boat in Miami with singer Trey Songz a week before the playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Following the loss, the Giants did not make a postseason appearance until 2022. The Giants sent four players to the Pro Bowl and their defense in 2016 was ranked third in the NFL with five All-Pros (the other All-Pro was Odell Beckham Jr.).

Offseason

Free agents signed DatePositionPlayerFree agent tag2015 TeamNew TeamNotes WR Anthony Dablé Rookie Argonautes (France) New York Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul UFA New York Giants New York Giants CB Janoris Jenkins UFA St. Louis Rams New York Giants DE Olivier Vernon UFA Miami Dolphins New York Giants DT Damon Harrison UFA New York Jets New York Giants LB Keenan RobinsonUFA Washington Redskins New York Giants QB Logan ThomasUFA Miami Dolphins New York Giants CB Leon HallUFA Cincinnati Bengals New York Giants Notable Arrival

Draft

Note The Giants conditionally traded their seventh-round selection to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for punter Brad Wing.

Staff

Final roster

Schedule

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Miami Dolphins L 10–27 0–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 at Buffalo Bills L 0–21 0–2 New Era Field Recap 3 at New York Jets W 21–20 1–2 MetLife Stadium Recap 4 New England Patriots W 17–9 2–2 MetLife Stadium Recap

Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 at Dallas Cowboys W 20–19 1–0 AT&T Stadium Recap 2 September 18 New Orleans Saints W 16–13 2–0 MetLife Stadium Recap 3 September 25 Washington Redskins L 27–29 2–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 4 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–24 2–2 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 5 October 9 at Green Bay Packers L 16–23 2–3 Lambeau Field Recap 6 October 16 Baltimore Ravens W 27–23 3–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 7 October 23 at Los Angeles Rams W 17–10 4–3 Twickenham Stadium Recap 8Bye 9 November 6 Philadelphia Eagles W 28–23 5–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 10 Cincinnati Bengals W 21–20 6–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 11 November 20 Chicago Bears W 22–16 7–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 12 November 27 at Cleveland Browns W 27–13 8–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 13 December 4 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–24 8–4 Heinz Field Recap 14 December 11 Dallas Cowboys W 10–7 9–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 15 December 18 Detroit Lions W 17–6 10–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 16 at Philadelphia Eagles L 19–24 10–5 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 17 January 1 at Washington Redskins W 19–10 11–5 FedExField Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Postseason

Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card January 8, 2017 at Green Bay Packers (4) L 13–38 0–1 Lambeau Field Recap

Game summaries

Regular season

Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys

Victor Cruz played his first NFL game in 700 days and the Giants fought hard with rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott in their pro debuts. The Cowboys could only muster 3 field goals in the first half as a Dez Bryant touchdown catch was overturned after review. Giants rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard caught his first career touchdown pass from Eli Manning giving the Giants a 13–9 halftime lead. Cruz had 4 catches for 34 yards and the game-winning touchdown with 6 minutes to play. On the last play of the game, Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams caught a pass that put Dallas near field goal range but chose to stay in bounds to get extra yards. The clock ran out before Prescott could get another play, and the Giants started 1–0 for the first time since 2010.

The Giants won their first game in Dallas since 2012 and Ben McAdoo won his first game as an NFL coach.

As of 2025, this is the most recent time the Giants defeated the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints

All the fans and media expected another shootout like the 52–49 game the year earlier, but oddly enough, the game was very low scoring as neither offense could capitalize on their opportunities. The Giants led 7–3 at halftime, their only score coming from a field goal blocked by Johnathan Hankins which Janoris Jenkins returned for a touchdown.

Despite a key fumble earlier in the game, the Giants drove down the field and Victor Cruz made the game's decisive catch at the Saints 2-yard line in the final minutes. Josh Brown kicked the game-winning field goal and the Giants improved to 2–0 for the first time since 2009. Eli Manning had 368 passing yards in the win.

Week 3: vs. Washington Redskins

This was a highly anticipated game after the Redskins added Josh Norman and would be the first time facing Odell Beckham Jr. since their incident the prior season. After Eli Manning threw an interception early in the fourth quarter, Beckham was seen striking the kicking net in frustration. The Redskins, who were 0–2 this season, picked off Manning again at the last second to seal a 29–27 Washington victory, which stunned MetLife Stadium. This was the Giants' first home loss to the Redskins since 2011.

Center Weston Richburg was ejected in the loss for pushing Norman in the 4th quarter, which proved costly. The push was his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, causing an automatic ejection under a new rule that the NFL had implemented in the aftermath of the previous incident between Beckham and Norman.

Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings

The Giants lost in Minnesota for the second time in as many seasons and their offense was even more anemic in this contest. Odell Beckham Jr.'s frustrations continued as he was held to 3 receptions for 23 yards.

Week 5: at Green Bay Packers

This was the first time the Giants returned to Lambeau Field since their victory over the Packers in the Divisional Round of the 2011 Playoffs. The Packers offense dominated the time of possession but Janoris Jenkins had two interceptions on Aaron Rodgers and he made several other key plays keeping the struggling Giants offense in the game. Eli Manning was held in check with one touchdown late in the 4th quarter and 199 yards, and the Giants running backs were only able to rush for 43 yards in 15 attempts. At this point in the season, the Giants offense ranked 27th in total scoring.

Week 6: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Hoping to stop a three-game losing streak, the Giants hosted the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of their 33–14 loss in 2012. Eli Manning threw his 300th career touchdown to Roger Lewis late in the second quarter. The Giants offense found their footing in the third quarter and their defense had a goal line stand to start the 4th quarter. Late in the 4th quarter, the Ravens drove down the field and scored making the game 23–20. Eli Manning and the Giants responded with a 66-yard touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr. – his second touchdown of the game (both from 65+ yards) to make the score 27–23. The Ravens threw up a Hail Mary but was stopped and the Giants ended their three-game losing streak. The Giants improved to 3–3 and became the third NFL team to win 700 games (including postseason). This game started a six-game winning streak for the Giants that would last until Week 13.

Week 7: at Los Angeles Rams NFL International Series

The Giants played in London for the first time since their 2007 win against the Miami Dolphins. Larry Donnell fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and the Rams scored 10 quick points only to be shut out by a dominant Giants defense. Landon Collins broke out recording two interceptions, one for a touchdown which many analysts hailed as the play of the year. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also recorded two more interceptions, including the game-winner. The defensive front also recorded three sacks. Running back Rashad Jennings capped off a touchdown drive with a 1-yard run and the Giants won 17–10, improving to 4–3 with a Bye Week ahead.

Week 9: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The Giants quickly took a 14-point lead after rookie Carson Wentz threw two interceptions on his first two drives and Eli Manning capitalized with touchdown passes to Odell Beckham Jr. and Roger Lewis. The Eagles left 9 points off the board in the first half, being stopped on 4th down in field goal range twice and having a field goal attempt blocked. The Eagles hung on and had a chance to take the lead late, but the Giants defense hung on and the Giants improved to 5–3 and beat the Eagles for the first time since 2013, and their first home win against the Eagles since 2012.

This was the 14th and final time Eli Manning threw four touchdown passes in a game.

Week 10: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

After their win over the Eagles, the Giants stayed at home for a Monday night matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were coming back from London after their tie against the Redskins. Tom Coughlin, Justin Tuck, and Ernie Accorsi were inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor at halftime nursing a 14–10 lead. The Bengals quickly got 10 points and had a 6-point lead going into the 4th quarter. Sterling Shepard caught a touchdown on 4th and Goal to give the Giants a 21–20 lead. Their defense led by their vaunted pass rush took over and the offense successfully ran out the clock. The Giants improved to 6–3 and matched their win total from the previous two years.

Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears

The Giants stayed at home for a matchup against the Chicago Bears. The Bears took a 16–9 lead at halftime. Manning threw two touchdown passes to open the second half and their defense shut out the Bears for the rest of the game. Jay Cutler threw a late interception to Landon Collins – his final pass as a Chicago Bear – to seal the win. The Giants 7–3 start was their best 10 game start since starting 9–1 in 2008. The win also ensured the Giants improved from their 6–10 campaigns from the last two years, and extended their winning streak to five consecutive games, their longest since 2010.

Week 12: at Cleveland Browns