A look at the NFL Week 12 game this Sunday between the Giants and Lions in Detroit:
Key Matchup
Lions RB Jamil Gibbs and David Montgomery vs. Giants run defense
Is this even a contest?
The Giants sit at a dismal 30th in run defense, yielding nearly 150 yards per game.
Meanwhile, the Lions have one of the league’s best rushing offenses, ranking seventh overall. It’s worth noting, though, that quarterback Jared Goff hasn’t contributed much with just 22 rushing yards this season.
Gibbs has impressive stats, totaling 732 yards and eight touchdowns on 140 attempts, averaging over 5 yards per carry. Montgomery, too, has posted decent numbers with 493 yards and five touchdowns on 110 attempts, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
The Giants struggle particularly with outside runs, so I think the Lions might exploit this weakness effectively.
Four Downs
Following the Leader: Brian Burns remarked on Myles Garrett’s impressive four sacks for the Browns in the previous week. He acknowledged that keeping up with Garrett is no easy feat, opting to focus on his own game instead.
Burns boasts a career-best 13 sacks, while Garrett currently leads the league with 15.
“You never really know in this game,” Burns mentioned. “Could I have predicted starting this season off so well? No, not really. And last week, could I have anticipated Jordan Love sliding in for a sack? I can’t say that. Sacks come in bunches and when they do, you’ve just got to be ready.”
Start Date: Abdul-Carter was set for his second NFL start last week, but after skipping a Friday walkthrough, he ended up seated for the initial defensive series.
With Kayvon Thibodeau sidelined due to shoulder issues, Carter should have a better opportunity this time around. Though he has only managed half a sack thus far, he admits that playing at this level is more challenging than he had assumed.
“Yeah, definitely,” he stated. “But good things don’t come easy. That’s why I enjoy challenges. I embrace them, keep learning, and just aim to improve.”
Comeback Story: Jared Goff has had a solid season, but last week was a struggle for him. He looked a bit down, completing only 14 of 37 passes and throwing an interception in the loss to the Eagles.
The Eagles pressured him significantly, with seven quarterback hits and two sacks. Can the Giants replicate this?
While Goff has thrown 21 touchdown passes this season and only four interceptions, he’s on the brink of joining an exclusive club. The next time he surpasses 300 passing yards, he’ll be among a select group of quarterbacks with at least 45 such games in their first ten NFL seasons.
Ground Game Struggles: The Giants have really felt the impact of Jackson Dart’s absence, who previously contributed 317 rushing yards.
In his absence, the Giants managed 142 rushing yards against the Packers. That’s the highest combined total for a running back duo this season, with Tyrone Tracy Jr. leading at 88 yards and Devin Singletary adding 44.
“It all began with good communication,” left tackle Andrew Thomas emphasized. “It’s about the entire team’s physical effort to make the running game work.”
Matchup Insight
This game would lose some excitement without Jackson Dart. Jameis Winston can still throw, but he threw a few interceptions in the last outing.
Look for matchups where the Giants could capitalize. The Lions are 6-4 and vying for a playoff spot, so they aren’t taking this lightly.
Lions 31, Giants 16
