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The 2019 preseason meeting between the New York Giants and New York Jets will mark 50 years since the two teams first met in preseason play. On August 17, 1969, the two teams met in New Haven, Connecticut’s Yale Bowl, with the defending Super Bowl champion Jets dispatching the Giants 37-14. The teams have met every year since, in what has become a more light-hearted rivalry for stadium bragging rights.

In recent years, the teams have often met in Week 3 of the preseason, generally the game where starters get the most extended action in a “dress rehearsal” before many full-time players take a breather in Week 4. But for the 50th anniversary meeting, rather than meeting in the more exciting Week 3, or on August 17 (the true anniversary), the two teams will square off to open their respective preseasons in Week 1.

As far as “bragging rights” go, the outcome of this game will do little to determine which team is better. Eli Manning and the first team offense traditionally play the opening drive before heading to the bench. A similar strategy will likely be employed by Sam Darnold and the Jets in Adam Gase’s first game as head coach.

As they do every four years, the Giants and Jets will also face each other in a more meaningful regular season game in Week 10. The Jets won their last meeting in 2015 by a score of 23-20 in overtime. Prior to that, the Giants had won the last five matchups with the Jets last victory coming in 1993. The Giants lead the all-time regular season series 8-5.

Both teams have high expectations for the 2019-2020 NFL season, but have to get over losing ways of the past few seasons.

Even with a fairly successful 11-5 2016 campaign that resulted in a Wild Card playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Giants have endured losing seasons five of the past six seasons. Over the past two seasons, the Giants have gone 8-24, finishing 4th place in the NFC East both times.

The Jets are a season further removed from their last winning one, the 2015 season where they went 10-6 behind Ryan Fitzpatrick and missed the playoffs only on tiebreakers. The next three seasons would be consistently subpar despite flashes of brilliance: 5-11, 5-11, 4-12. Three straight seasons in 4th place in the AFC East.

Which team will turn it around first? To voice your opinion, join the conversation with Sak Sports Blog on Twitter.