Sportsnaut
The New York Giants (2-9) will travel to the Motor City to take on the Detroit Lions (6-4) on Sunday at Ford Field.
Few, if any, are giving New York a chance to pull off the upset as they’ve lost five straight and enter this game as double-digit underdogs. Despite being overwhelming favorites to win, Detroit knows it can’t take this game for granted. If the playoffs began today, they would be on the outside looking in, and a loss to one of the worst teams in the league would hinder their playoff chances.
With one team fighting for their playoff lives and the other looking to put an end to an embarrassing losing streak, this could turn into one of the more entertaining games of Week 12.
Here are four bold predictions for Sunday’s game.
Jameis Winston made his first start of the season last week against the Packers in place of Jaxson Dart and completed 19 out of 29 passes for 201 yards, with an interception and a rushing touchdown. He led the team on a nine-play 65-yard opening drive that culminated in a Devin Singletary five-yard touchdown run.
Winston will start again in Detroit and look to get interim head coach Mike Kafka his first career win.
If the Giants are going to have any chance of pulling off the upset, they will need another hot start in this game. This week, Winston and the offense will start the game even hotter as the 31-year-old quarterback will throw two touchdown passes in the first quarter.
Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most explosive running backs in the league and can make a big play in the blink of an eye. He’s already scored on touchdown runs of 78 and 43 yards this season and is poised to have another stellar performance against the Giants.
New York’s run defense has been putrid all season, allowing 149 yards per game on the ground, which is 31st in the league. In particular, they struggle mightily defending the edge where they get gashed on a week-to-week basis.
Now they have to face one of the quickest backs in the league doesn’t bode well for them. The 23-year-old Gibbs will have one of his best games of the season, which will include a 70-yard touchdown run.
The fourth quarter has been nothing short of a disaster for New York during its five-game losing streak. During this stretch, they’ve been outscored 83 to 44 in the final period, which has defensive coordinator Shane Bowen on the hot seat.
You would figure that trend will continue on Sunday as the defense will be without Kayvon Thibodeaux and Paulson Adebo, facing one of the most potent offenses in the league. But the defense will hold firm in the fourth quarter and hold Detroit...
