NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Nobody thinks the New York Giants will be good

The New York Giants think they are a good football team. Just ask them. NFL prognosticators think they are a bad one. Just look at the Week 1 NFL Power Rankings.

Aggregating seven rankings from around the Internet, the Giants come out to an average ranking of No. 27 in the 32-team NFL. The only aberration is The Washington Post, which has the Giants at No. 17.

“We don’t really listen to the talk outside. We feel like we are a better team than we were a year ago, we just have to go out and perform. We know we are at the stage of our year where winning football games is what it’s all about and so that’s where we’re at,” coach Pat Shurmur said Monday.

“I like the way we have built our team. I like some of the changes we made personnel wise. I also feel like the second year in our system we are smoother in how we operate. That’s why I think, I don’t care what everybody outside thinks.”

Here is some of what “everybody outside” actually does think.

NBC Sports Chicago — No. 29

The New York Giants have been the laughing stock of the NFL all offseason, starting with the trade that sent WR Odell Beckham, Jr. to the Cleveland Browns and ending with the selection of QB Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick. But GM Dave Gettleman may be onto something in Year 2 on the job; don’t be surprised if the Giants win more games than expected in 2019. It’s all going to come down to QB Eli Manning, and based on his recent track record, it’s safe to assume Big Blue will be among the league’s worst this fall.

The Ringer — No. 28

USA Today — No. 27

Sadly for two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, we’re all officially waiting to see how Daniel Jones performs in a real NFL game.

Detroit Free Press — No. 30

CBS Sports (Prisco) — No. 31

How long will Eli Manning be the starting quarterback? Isn’t it only a matter of time before Daniel Jones takes over?

Washington Post — No. 17

WR Odell Beckham Jr. is gone to the Browns, and QB Eli Manning must show his productive days in the NFL aren’t over. It probably will behoove the Giants just to admit at some point that this is an all-out retooling project and make the switch from Manning to rookie Daniel Jones under center. Winning some games with Jones would not be out of the question, especially because the offense could lean on RB Saquon Barkley.

NFL.com — No. 27

Daniel Jones’ preseason line: 29-for-34 passing for 416 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Good on Danny Dimes, who caught a lot of unnecessary and unfair criticism after the Giants ”reached” to take the former Duke star with the sixth overall pick. And here’s the thing: Jones still could very well end up being a reach by Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, but the Twitter know-it-alls ( and you, too, Baker) were insufferable during the spring and summer. With four strong preseason performances, Jones shut his critics up ... for the time being, anyway. Now we’ll see how long Eli Manning can hold off the kid. My prediction for Jones’ first start and the official passing of the torch at the Meadowlands: Week 7 against the Cardinals.