Big Blue View
Finding believers in the idea that the 2-9 New York Giants will defeat the home-standing 6-4 Detroit Lions this weekend seems like a hard sell. Let’s see if anyone on the Big Blue View staff will show faith in the Giants in our Week 12 NFL picks and predictions.
Season record: 94-53-1 (64.0%)
I don’t think anyone in their right mind can pick the Giants to win this game.
Mike Kafka is getting just about everything out of the Giants’ offense that there is to give, and it’s been enough to hang with top teams. So there’s definitely a path to victory, however that also involves the defense actually playing up to its talent level. Mike Kafka seems to be stressing accountability as well as bringing energy to the practice and playing fields, so we’ll have to see if another week starts to pay dividends.
I’m most interested to see how Kafka adapts the Giants’ offense and game plan from what we saw last week with Jameis Winston to Jaxson Dart. I also want to see how Dart gels with Isaiah Hodgins.
This could (or perhaps should) be a winnable game for the Giants, but I’m not expecting it. I’ll simply want to see the team take a step forward and continue to be competitive under Mike Kafka.
Pick: Lions
Season record: 102-61-1 (63.0%)
This is a bad matchup for the Giants. Jared Goff has 28 TDs with 0 INTs against man defense…which Shane Bowen is playing more than any other defensive coordinator in the NFL. If you think there’s a Giants defensive back and/or linebacker who can cover Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, I’ve got a bridge I’d like to sell you. Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the best running backs in the NFL, going against a Giants’ D that can’t stop the run. When the Giants are on offense, they will be going from the frying pan (Micah Parsons) last week into the fire this week – Aidan Hutchinson, who has been a demon in the pass rush. The Lions’ run defense is also stout, especially at linebacker with Jack Campbell. The one thing the Giants may have going for them is that Jaxson Dart may be back, and his ability to avoid the pass rush and create could conceivably allow the Giants to neutralize the rush and make some plays. Still, there’s no other place on either side of the ball where the Giants have an advantage in this game, unless their own pass rush finally begins to get home against the immobile Goff.
Pick: Lions
Season record: 78-38-1 (67.0%)
The Lion feels desperate after allowing the Eagle to snatch its prey. Watching from the third layer of the NFC North, the Lion grows hungry waiting for a meal — a GIANT meal. Not only is Detroit one of the best rushing offenses in the league with a dominant offensive line, but they’re play-action passing attack is...
