New England Patriots - NESN.com
Stefon Diggs won’t let the New England Patriots fall victim to a trap game when they host the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football.”
While the 10-2 Patriots are competing for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the 2-10 Giants are already mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. It’s a lopsided matchup on paper, but Diggs isn’t taking the opposition lightly.
New England’s star wide receiver praised New York’s defense before the Week 13 game, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy.
“We’ve got to prepare the right way because this is a damn good defense and everybody knows it,” Diggs said. “Everybody in the league has seen it.”
Perhaps Diggs is buttering up the opposition through flattery. After all, the Giants enter Monday’s game ranked 30th in yards (385.0) and points allowed (27.8) per game.
New York is especially anemic on the ground, permitting an NFL-worst 157.2 rushing yards per game and 5.9 yards per carry. Monday represents a golden opportunity for TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson to prove they can form a dynamic backfield duo.
The Giants haven’t played up to Diggs’ acclaim when blowing five double-digit leads this season. They suffered a gutting 34-27 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 12 after squandering a 10-point edge in the fourth quarter.
Yet Diggs isn’t overlooking a unit led by Brian Burns, who has garnered 13 sacks and two forced fumbles this season. Kayvon Thibodeaux will miss Monday’s game with a shoulder injury, but the Giants could eventually receive more pass-rushing help from No. 3 pick Abdul Carter.
The primetime matchup starts at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.
