After an indifferent start to the season the Giants have become serious playoff contenders with two emphatic victories in their last two games. It seemed like the Giants D were sacking the Bears Jay Cutler every time he took a snap a couple of weeks ago while last week they went into Houston and shut down the Texans Arian Foster led run attack which had done so much damage, and scored many fantasy points, previously. This game should therefore be an easy one to put in the W column for the Giants before they move on to divisional foe the Cowboys in Dallas next Monday night. But, as Lee Corso says on College Gameday, not so fast my friend.
These Lions are not the push over they once were and whilst I am not expecting them to beat the Giants I am prepared to say that if the Giants don't bring their A game they may well find themselves involved in the upset of the week.
The multi faceted Lions offense will face a stiff test in the Giants defense which has really clicked into gear the last couple of weeks. It is to be hoped that Hill avoids the beating Cutler took and Best scampers for more yards than his fellow rookie Foster managed for the Texans. With Calvin Johnson still an injury doubt the onus for a successful offensive performance from the Lions may well fall on the twin tight end threat of Pettigrew and Scheffler. This game will be a major test for the Lions offensive line and they will need to contain the dominating Giants D line to give the Lions offense a chance to produce.
If the Lions fail to generate any offense then this game could get ugly very quickly as the Lions D is not yet at the level where it can dominate an opposition (last weeks shut down of the Rams became easier as the Lions pulled away on the scoreboard). The Giants offense will try and establish the run and if the Lions can stop that there is every chance they can rattle the younger Manning brother into throwing the odd interception and taking a sack or two.
Special teams will need to continue the good work of recent weeks and healthy return yardage may well be a vital aspect in ensuring reasonable field position for the Lions offense. If the game is close then Jason Hanson is still about as reliable a kicker as there is in the NFL so the Lions will have no need to fear if the game comes down to a field goal attempt with time expiring.
I'm going to say the Giants don't make the mistake of underestimating a rapidly improving Lions team and win what turns out to be quite a close game but I'm hoping they do have one eye on next Monday and the Dallas Cowboys and so allow the Lions the chance to pull off a shocker.
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