10 Things to Watch in Giants vs. Lions
The New York Giants face a tough test this Sunday against the high-powered Detroit lions.โฃ Here are 10 key things to watch as the Giants look to pull off an upset:
1. Jaxson dart’s health & Status: The biggest question mark forโ the Giants revolvesโ around quarterbackโ Jaxson Dart. headโ Coach Brian Daboll expressed his primary concern was ensuring Dart’s healthโ following his exit from the โgame against the Chicago Bears. “My โonly concern wasโ just makingโ sure Jaxson’s healthy and right,” Kafka told reporters Friday. “Again, we have a lot of trust in โthe doctorsโฆwe are certainly doingโ that wiht Jaxson.” โHis availability will heavilyโข influence the Giants’ offensive strategy.
2.โค Winston’s Possibility: If Dart is unable to โplay, Tommy DeVito will start,โ but the Giants will likelyโ lean on veteran Tyrod Taylor toโค get the pass game going. theโฃ Lions present a favorable matchup โfor passing, allowing the ninth-most passing touchdowns โin the NFL with 18.
3.โค Lions’ Pass-Funnel Defense: Detroit boasts a top-10 run defense butโข is vulnerable through โtheโฃ air.This creates a potential opportunity for the Giants’ passing attack, especially if Dart is โฃhealthy enough โto exploit the weaknesses in the Lions’ secondary.
4. Banged-Up Lions Secondary: โฃ Detroit’s secondary is facing significant injury concerns. Starting cornerback Terrion Arnold (concussion) and starting safety Kerby Joseph (knee) have not practiced this week after missing Week 11.The status of โstarting corner D.J. Reedโฃ (hamstring)โข is also uncertain. The Lions couldโ be without three-quarters of โtheirโค starting secondary, โpotentially providing a boost for โthe Giants’ quarterback.
5. Lions’ โขOffensive Line Dominance: the Lions’ offenseโ is built around a dominant offensiveโ line, led by tackles Penei Sewell and โTaylor Decker. This unit โconsistently ranksโ among the NFL’s best, creating running lanes and โฃprotecting quarterback Jared Goff.
6.โ Two-Headed Rushingโ Attack: Detroit features a potent rushing attack spearheaded by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs is averaging 5.2โค yards per carry with 732 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, adding 37 receptions for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Montgomeryโค has 493โข rushing yards (4.5 avg.)โ and five touchdownsโฃ on 110 attempts.
7. Jared Goff’s Efficiency: Quarterback โJared Goff is enjoying a strong season, completing 69.7 โคpercent of his passes for 2,490 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 110.8.
8. โขAmon-Ra St.Brown’s Impact: Amon-Ra St. Brown is Goff’s primary target and a leagueโค leader in receptions. He โhas 94 targets, 66 receptions, 735 receivingโค yards, and eight touchdowns. Containing St. Brown will be crucial for the Giants’ defense.
9. Jameson Williams’ Emergence: Detroit’s No. 2โ receiver, Jamesonโฃ Williams, has been gaining momentum, recording at least four receptions for 66 yards โขand a touchdown in four of hisโ last fiveโค games.
10. Samโ LaPorta’s Absence: The Lions will be without starting tight end Sam LaPorta, who wasโฃ placed on injured reserve last week due to a back injury. This lossโ removes a key weapon from Goff’s arsenal and could slightly alter the Lions’ offensive approach.