Giants (2-5) at Lions (2-3-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Ford Field, Detroit
TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 7
Giants’ keys to victory: RB Saquon Barkley needs to have a big game against a leaky Detroit run defense. If Barkley can consistently set the offense up with secondand-short, it will allow rookie QB Daniel Jones to take more shots downfield to TE Evan Engram and WR Golden Tate, a former Lion who excels after the catch. The Giants run the ball effectively but have been too quick to abandon it when they fall behind, a mistake they can’t afford on the road. Ball security is critical for a Giants offense that has committed a leagueworst 18 turnovers.
Lions’ keys to victory: The Lions must convert long drives into touchdowns and not settle for field goals. QB Matthew Stafford has been outstanding at throwing the long ball this season to WRs Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay, but the Detroit offense stalls too frequently when the deep ball is taken away by a short field. Getting RB Kerryon Johnson more involved in the passing game could help, as could impressive rookie TE T.J. Hockenson. On defense, the Lions would greatly benefit from a more consistent pass rush.
Matchup to watch: Giants WR Golden Tate vs. Lions CB Darius Slay. These two battled in practice for years when Tate was with the Lions, and both are among the league’s best and are extremely confident in their play-making ability. Expect a lot of talking and momentum-changing plays.
Who wins? The Lions have the defensive playmakers to stymie Jones and the Giants’ offense often enough to allow Stafford and the Detroit playmakers to take over.
Lions,30-24
Lions
Giants schedule
L ......... at Dallas ......... 35-17 L .......... Buffalo .......... 28-14 W ... at Tampa Bay ... 32-31 W ...... Washington ...... 24-3 L ....... Minnesota ....... 28-10 L .. at New England .. 35-14 L ......... Arizona ......... 27-21 Oct. 27 ...... at Detroit ...... 1 Nov.4 ....... Dallas ....... 8:15 Nov.10 .... atN.Y.Jets .... 1 Nov. 17 ............. BYE ............. Nov. 24 ..... at Chicago ..... 1 Dec.1 ...... GreenBay ...... 1 Dec. 9 at Philadelphia 8:15 Dec.15 ......... Miami ......... 1 Dec. 22 . at Washington . 1 Dec. 29 ... Philadelphia ... 1
Lions schedule
T ....... at Arizona ....... 27-27 W ... L.A. Chargers ... 13-10 W .. at Philadelphia .. 27-24 L ...... Kansas City ...... 34-30
BYE
L .... at Green Bay .... 23-22 L ....... Minnesota ....... 42-30 Oct. 27 ..... N.Y. Giants ..... 1 Nov. 3 ... at Oakland ... 4:05 Nov. 10 ..... at Chicago ..... 1 Nov.17 ......... Dallas ......... 1 Nov. 24 . at Washington . 1 Nov. 28 ... Chicago ... 12:30 Dec. 8 .... at Minnesota .... 1 Dec. 15 ..... Tampa Bay ..... 1 Dec. 21 or 22 at Denver TBD Dec. 29 ..... Green Bay ..... 1