New York Giants 2016 schedule preview: Chicago Bears, Week 11

By the time the New York Giants host the Chicago Bears in Week 11, we should know quite a bit about the 2016 Giants. Will they be setting themselves up for a late-season playoff push? Will they be floundering and heading toward yet another playoff-less season?

The Nov. 20 meeting with the Bears will mark the finale of a three-game home stretch at MetLife Stadium, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals the first two opponents.

An interesting side note to this game is that it will give Giants fans a chance to look at rookie linebacker Leonard Floyd, who many people thought the Giants would take had he been available with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Remember, the Bears traded up to the ninth spot to get ahead of the Giants and select Floyd.

Let’s learn more about the Bears from our friends at SB Nation’s Windy City Gridiron.

Chicago Bears

Notable free agent additions: ILB Danny Trevathan, ILB Jerell Freeman, DL Akiem Hicks, RT Bobby Massie

Notable free agent departures: RB Matt Forte

Trades: TE Martellus Bennett to New England Patriots

Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies:

1st Round OLB Leonard Floyd will at the very least be in on passing downs to rush the passer. His coverage skills could be put to use as well.

2nd Round OL Cody Whitehair is in line to start at left guard.

3rd Round DL Jonathan Bullard will be in the defensive line rotation.

5th Round RB Jordan Howard will be part of the Bears’ backfield by committee. The power element he adds could give him the edge on short yardage and goal line situations.

Biggest offseason addition: The two free agent inside linebackers will help get the Bears defense back to being respectable. Trevathan and Freeman are so much better (like really, really, better) than last year’s duo of Shea McClellin and Christian Jones.

Biggest storyline heading into training camp: There are a lot of story lines to pick from, but I think most fans are excited to see 2015 first-round draft pick Kevin White finally healthy. He missed all of last season with a shin injury, and if he’s all he’s cracked up to be, he will add a huge playmaker to the offense.

Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp: So many to choose from, like the revamped front seven gelling, the running back by committee taking shape, the safety position figuring itself out, Jay Cutler meshing with new offensive coordinator, but a more obscure storyline could be 7th round pick Daniel Braverman. He’s a smallish and shifty slot receiver that Bears’ fans are already rooting for. If he has a good camp then follows it up was a decent preseason, some fans will have their new favorite player.

Notable injuries heading into training camp: Fourth wide out Marquess Wilson broke his foot again and may end up on the PUP list. Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee is recovering from offseason knee surgery, but he should be 100% for training camp.

Giants 2016 regular season schedule

Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys, Sept. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX) — Cowboys overview

Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints, Sept. 18, 1 p.m. (FOX) — Saints overview

Week 3: vs. Washington Redskins, Sept. 25, 1 p.m. (FOX) — Redskins overview

Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings, Oct. 3, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) — Vikings overview

Week 5: at Green Bay Packers, Oct. 9, 8:30 p.m. (NBC) — Packers overview

Week 6: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Oct. 16, 1 p.m. (CBS) — Ravens overview

Week 7: at Los Angeles Rams (London), Oct. 23, 9:30 a.m. (NFL Network) — Rams overview

Week 8: BYE WEEK

Week 9: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Nov. 6, 1 p.m. (FOX) — Eagles overview

Week 10: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Nov. 14, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) — Bengals overview

Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears, Nov. 20, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Week 12: at Cleveland Browns, Nov. 27, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers, Dec. 4, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Week 14: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Dec. 11, 8:30 p.m. (NBC)

Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions, Dec. 18, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Week 16: at Philadelphia Eagles, Dec. 22, 8:25 (NBC/NFL Network)

Week 17: at Washington Redskins, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Preseason schedule

Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins, Fri., Aug. 12, 7 p.m.

Week 2: at Buffalo Bills, Sat., Aug. 20 (TBA)

Week 3: at New York Jets, Sat., Aug 27, 7:30 p.m.

Week 4: vs. New England Patriots, Thurs., Sept. 1, 7 p.m.