There is not as much optimism and excitement surrounding the New York Giants following an embarrassing season-opening 40-0 blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys on the primetime stage.

Not only did the Giants lose to its division rival, but the team was completely outplayed in just about every way imaginable. It revealed that New York may still be a tier below Dallas and the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC race.

However, New York doesn't have much time to dwell on the loss. Instead, the Giants must put the performance behind them and turn things around. That starts this week agains the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona might very well be the worst team in the NFL, especially for as long as Kyler Murray is sidelined. Therefore, New York should be in position to add its first win of the season. With that said, that doesn't mean the Giants can overlook its next opponent.

Because the Cardinals took the Washington Commanders deep into the fourth quarter and nearly won the game. But even more than that, the Giants can ill-afford to fall to 0-2, especially with the way that the schedule plays out.

It’s not an overreaction: The #Giants face a must-win game already in Week 2 against the Cardinals.

They can’t afford a loss with the 49ers (and a defensive front perhaps better than Dallas) on deck the following Thursday. That’s 0–3 staring them in the face if they can’t win…

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 11, 2023

After the Giants take on Arizona, New York plays Nick Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers. If the showing versus the Cowboys' defense is any showing, that likely won't be easy for Daniel Jones and company, either.

"It's embarrassing, but it's over with now. We have to put that one to rest," Giants safety Xavier McKinney said of the team's focus following the Sunday Night Football defeat.

There's no getting around it: an 0-2 — and therefore a likely 0-3 — start to the season would put a wrench in what the Giants are looking to accomplish this season., It would make it extremely difficult to repeat the success of last year.

Giants hit with major question after performance versus Cowboys

There is a legitimate question to whether or not the New York Giants can compete with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.

Featured image via Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK