ep 6, 2011 - The New York Giants open their 2011 season Sunday at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C. against the NFC East rival Washington Redskins (4:15 p.m., ET, FOX). The game will mark the 10-year anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, in which both New York and D.C. were struck. The Redskins have planned a series of tributes to commemorate the date.
On the field, the Giants begin 2011 aiming to make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. The Giants finished 10-6 last season, but disappointing losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers left the Giants outside of the playoffs looking in. The Giants went 8-8 in 2009.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin is beginning his eighth season at the helm of the Giants, and this team will be different than the one the Giants have featured the past couple of seasons. Several key starters from past seasons are gone. Wide receiver Steve Smith (Philadelphia), tight end Kevin Boss (Oakland) and defensive tackle Barry Cofield (Washington) left via free agency. Starting offensive linemen Shaun O'Hara (center) and Rich Seubert (guard) were cut.
In their place, the Giants will lean on many of the young players drafted or brought in as free agents by general manager Jerry Reese. There will be 10 rookies on the Giants' season-opening 53-man roster.
"It better be a good thing, it has to be a good thing," Coughlin said. "They bring vitality, they bring energy and I just hope we can get it down, chain it down and get it in the right direction."
The Giants have no choice at this point but to begin finding out on Sunday afternoon.