John Mara set a vague bar for success this season, saying “We just need to feel like we’re building something that’s going to compete for a championship.” He obviously doesn’t expect that championship to come this season.

But he said he’s hopeful that there are enough pieces in place to make a sooner-than-expected run at the playoffs, and maybe even for the top of the NFC East.

If that seems unreasonable and unlikely … well, you’re not alone. The outside expectations for the Giants seem to be startlingly low. So what should everyone realistically expect from them this season?

Here’s a game-by-game look at the 2020 season, including predictions that might offer some clues:

Week 1: Monday, Sept. 14 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7:15 p.m.

Joe Judge’s debut couldn’t come in many worse spots – a prime-time showdown against a legitimate contender. The Steelers have most pieces back from a Top 5 defense and dangerous pass rush that will test the Giants’ new-look offensive line. And Ben Roethlisberger’s return adds some juice to a dangerous offense. If nothing else, it’ll be a good lesson for Judge on what being an NFL head coach is like.

Pick: Loss

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.

Mitch Trubisky beat out Nick Foles for the starting quarterback job in Chicago, but Matt Nagy left open the possibility of switching back. That sounds like a bad plan, so who knows who’ll be at the helm by Week 2. It probably doesn’t matter, though. The Giants went into Soldier Field last November and hung tough against the Bears. They’re a better team now and they get a break with the early trip to Chicago before the weather turns.

Pick: Win

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 17 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m.

Fresh off a trip to Super Bowl LIV it’s a good bet the 49ers will experience something of a Super Bowl hangover at some point. But probably not this early. They are still pretty loaded and they are a far better team than the Giants. And Nick Bosa will love playing against rookie left tackle Andrew Thomas in just his third week in the league.

Pick: Loss

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4 at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m.

They had their Super Bowl hangover a year ago and they still had one of the best offenses in the NFL. That’s a problem for a Giants’ defense that figures to be a work-in-progress all season. Even with Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks gone, the Rams have weapons everywhere – particularly in the passing game. This could be the first big test for the Giants’ awful secondary, and it likely won’t end well.

Pick: Loss

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11 at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.

The Jason Garrett Bowl. He probably knows the Cowboys’ weaknesses, and they surely know his. But the bottom line is the Cowboys overwhelmed the Giants in both games last season and they’re a better team now. Does anyone think the Giants can cover Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb while keeping an eye on Ezekiel Elliott? Didn’t think so.

Pick: Loss

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 vs. Washington Football Team, 1 p.m.

The Giants can start to turn the tide with the first “easy” game on their schedule. Daniel Jones is still better than Dwayne Haskins and the Giants have more weapons. They need to be careful that rookie Chase Young doesn’t wreck this game for them, but if they can keep him off Jones they should win going away

Pick: Win

Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 22 at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m.

The Giants took the Eagles to overtime in Philadelphia last season, and probably should have won that game long before that. Sure, the Eagles won the division, but they were 9-7 and needed to win their last four to get there. They also have receiver problems that could slow their passing game. The Giants just need to contain tight end Zach Ertz. If they do that, then on a short week they might be able to squeeze enough offense out to win.

Pick: Win

Week 8: Monday, Nov. 2 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m.

The Bucs are now loaded with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski and a stable of impressive receivers, an it’s hard to picture the Giants’ battered secondary keeping up. They’d need some magic. And sadly, they might have had it in a normal season. This game figured to be “Eli Manning Night”, with their former quarterback getting inducted into the Ring of Honor at halftime. But this time, Manning won’t be around to knock Brady off.

Pick: Loss

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 at Washington Football Team, 1 p.m.

If Chase Young is as good as expected, he’ll be rounding into form right about now. Maybe the same can be said of Andrew Thomas, which will make this quite the rookie showdown. And just like the first meeting, if the Giants can hold Young off, there shouldn’t be much about the the Washington Football Team that worries them.

Pick: Win

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m.

As long as Carson Wentz is healthy at this point, the Eagles are still a talented team and probably the favorite to win the NFC East. So it’s a little much to expect the Giants to sweep them. They’ve also won 11 of their last 13 games against the Giants at the Meadowlands – for whatever that’s worth in a season with no fans in the stands.

Pick: Loss

Week 11: BYE

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.

There are huge expectations for quarterback Joe Burrow, the NFL’s reigning No. 1 overall pick. And no doubt the Bengals will be better. But all rookie quarterbacks struggle to some extent, and Burrow will likely be no exception. Maybe in the long run he’ll turn out to be better than Jones -- maybe. But not yet.

Pick: Win

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m.

A long flight to Seattle will be made easier knowing that CenturyLink Field – always one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL – probably won’t be filled. The Seahawks won’t have fans at their first three home games. Who knows what will happen by Week 13, but it seems doubtful the stadium would be anything close to filled. Still, the Seahawks are a Super Bowl contender so no matter what happens, this is a pretty terrible way to start December. If the Giants want to make a strong stretch run, they’ll have to wait another week

Pick: Loss

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m.

The Cardinals’ win over the Giants last season was a little fluky considering it was running back Chase Edmonds, not then-rookie quarterback Kyler Murray, that destroyed the Giants. The Giants’ defense should be better prepared this time, but Murray figures to be a lot better. Also, he’s got DeAndre Hopkins on his side now and covering him will be a chore.

Pick: Loss

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

The Browns have a ton of talent on their roster, but it’s still unclear if they’ll be able to put it all together. After all, they have been a model of dysfunction the last few seasons. It’s hard to match their offensive talent if it’s all healthy. Kareem Hunt, alone, could be a nightmare out of the backfield for the Giants. Austin Hooper and David Njoku give the Giants two tight ends to deal with (and they usually have trouble covering just one). And then there’s Odell Beckham. But this still feels like a bad mix. Maybe they’ll be falling apart at the right time against a Giants team clinging to the outside edge of the playoff chase

Pick: Win

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27 at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.

If the Giants are somehow clinging to playoff hopes at this point, this is where it ends. If not … well, then this game could get ugly. Assuming Lamar Jackson is healthy, he is primed for a huge season, surely motivated by losing to the Titans in the divisional playoffs last year. Unless they’ve got nothing at stake, figure the Ravens in a rout.

Pick: Loss

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m.

The final game of the season usually depends on what’s still at stake, and it’s probably likely nothing will be at stake for the Giants. But this is where a young team could put a stamp on their growth, give everyone hope that next year really could be better. Somehow, some way, figure the Giants to end their season with a bang. We’ll see if that’s enough to give Mara the hope he needs to see.

Pick: Win

Week 1: Monday, Sept. 14 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7:15 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 17 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4 at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11 at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 vs. Washington Football Team, 1 p.m.

Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 22 at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m.

Week 8: Monday, Nov. 2 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 at Washington Football Team, 1 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m.

Week 11: BYE

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27 at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m.

Overall record: 7-9

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