This week’s Monday night football comes from New York when the New York Giants welcome the Detroit Lions to town. The Giants head back home looking for their first win of the season after losing to the Cowboys on opening weekend, while the Lions picked up a win against the Arizona Cardinals. They scored 20 points in the final quarter of that game to beat the Cardinals, but coming up against one of the toughest defences in the league, I can’t see them repeating that this week.
The Giants played last week’s game in Dallas without Odell Beckham Jr and they desperately need him to return this week. Their offence struggled last week, although with such a key player missing they can be forgiven for that. The one area of disappointment for me was the one catch from Brandon Marshall, I expected much more from him, especially in the absence of Beckham and he needs to show more this week. Should Beckham play in the game, with him, Sterling Shephard and hopefully a better showing from Brandon Marshall, the Giants have enough offence to really trouble Detroit.
Should that offence hit top gear this week then I don’t see how Detroit will be able to keep up with the Giants, who have a very impressive defensive group. Despite not playing brilliantly all round last weekend, the Giants still only conceded 19 points to the Cowboys, one of the best offences in the league, playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. That was an effort that gave me hope for the Giants and I can see them limiting Detroit to less than that on Monday.
That defensive play will give Eli Manning the chance to create more offence this week than he did last week and that will be what wins the game for the Giants. We need to see more from Manning, but back at home and hopefully with his favourite target Beckham back in the line-up, I am sure we will see him in a better light.
I am backing the Giants to stand up tall against the Detroit offence, limit their chances and give Eli Manning great field position to go out and win the game with his Giants team. I think we will see a very different Giants team this weekend and one that will eventually win the game.
