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Winning at the Commanders as an underdog last Sunday was nice.
Except, they’re the one team that the Giants have owned in recent years, regardless of who’s in uniform or what the teams’ records are. Heck, two of their three wins this year have come against Washington.
Unfortunately, it must be taken with a grain of salt until the Giants (3-8) put together a string of good performances against other teams — literally anyone else — and this Sunday’s home game against New England (2-8) is the perfect opportunity to prove that last week was no fluke.
The Patriots are one of only three teams with fewer wins than the Giants, but they’re coming off of a bye week and it’s never a picnic for rookie quarterbacks to go against a Bill Belichick-coached defense.
So it’s a winnable game, yet also one that can gain more respect for a Giants coaching staff fighting to retain jobs next year.
“They have good players, and they play good team defense, good coaches,” head coach Brian Daboll said of Belichick, who gave Daboll his first NFL coaching job as a defensive assistant in 2000. “They do a good job of taking away big plays, stopping the run, playing good in the red zone. Play good team defense, have a variety of looks. Game-plan team, so what you see on tape for one game might not be what you get the next game. So, it’s always a challenge.”
In the Giants’ only home win of the season on Oct. 22 against Washington, they started fast with two first-half touchdowns and then rode a dominant defensive performance. In fact, the only four first-half touchdowns that they’ve scored have come in the two Commanders games.
New England’s defense is allowing the fourth-most first-half points per game (13.5), so let’s see what quarterback Tommy DeVito has for an encore in his first home start after going off for 246 passing yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers in Washington.
“It’s an honor to be able to play against (Belichick),” DeVito said. “I’ve been around him a little bit in the past with the Shrine Game (in college), him and the Patriots were my coaching staff for that game. So, I got to know a lot of them and kind of how they go about their business. But it’s a challenge I look forward to it. At the end of the day, I’m going to continue to do what I do and prepare and continue to just try to lead this team and lead this offense and not think too much about it.”
DeVito’s breakout performance coincided with running back Saquon Barkley’s best game of the season as a receiver with four catches for 57 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots are allowing the 12th-most receiving yards per game (35.7) to running backs. But they also allow the ninth-fewest rushing yards per game (97.7).
Daboll indicated that it came down to the Giants getting the looks that they wanted from Washington’s defense, but clearly the coaches want to utilize their best weapon as a more versatile rusher and receiver.
Defensively, the Giants had six takeaways in a game last week for the first time since 2004. And it was the first time since the 1967 season opener that they forced six turnovers while committing none.
“Our special teams coordinator T-Mac always says, ‘Some vitamin W, some vitamin W will get you back,’” said safety Jason Pinnock, who had an interception in the game. “With the struggling season we’ve been having, those are good. It’s a good kind of momentum booster for us and get it flowing into the room and get guys — younger guys especially — to remember who we are. Remember who we are, and sometimes things pile up in the game, whether it’s early, offensively, defensively, special teams, or whatever the case may be, and it just doesn’t go your way. These types of games get you that momentum to keep rolling through the rest of the season.”
The Patriots, meanwhile, have had all sorts of problems offensively. They have 16 turnovers in 10 games, their 14.1 points per game are second-fewest ahead of only the Giants’ 13.5, and quarterback Mac Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe on the final drive of their 10-6 loss to the Colts two weeks ago.
Belichick has declined to name a starter for Sunday’s game. Daboll said the Giants have spent time watching “all the quarterbacks that they have on their roster,” but no matter which mediocre quarterback the Patriots pick, the Giants shouldn’t be losing any sleep.
The more interesting development is what happens to the Giants’ run defense because defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, their most disruptive player, is doubtful to play due to injury for the first time since 2021.
The Patriots had a season-best 167 rushing yards against the Colts, mostly with their two-headed attack featuring Rhamondre Simmons and Ezekiel Elliott. They will also be a fresher offense and team than the Giants after last playing 14 days ago.
But New York desperately needs this win to support its performance in Washington. Losing for a higher draft pick is nice, but you still want to know that you have the right coaches and core group of players in place for the future.
And another good result against a weak opponent can deepen the narrative that the Giants have not quit on Daboll, who will match wits with his former mentor for the first time as a head coach in the regular season.
“They run a good scheme, give you a variety of looks,” Daboll said when asked why rookie quarterbacks struggle so much against Belichick. “He’s been doing it for a long time, since the year I was born. 1975, with the Lions, I believe.”
Giants Gameday
The Game: Patriots (2-8) at Giants (3-8), MetLife Stadium, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
The Line: New England by 3.5
History: The Patriots lead the all-time series, 7-6, and have won two in a row (2015 and 2019). The Giants last won in Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. The Patriots’ only loss to the Giants in East Rutherford came in 1987.
Key Matchups:
Giants WR Jalin Hyatt vs. Patriots CBs Jonathan Jones/Myles Bryant: With Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard banged up, the Giants could use a big game from the rookie Hyatt, who has been getting open but hasn’t had a catch of 10 or more yards in five weeks for this inconsistent passing attack. The Patriots are banged up at cornerback.
Giants offensive line vs. Patriots ILB Ja’Whaun Bentley: The Giants will have to be collectively aware at all times of Bentley, who has caused havoc in the middle of New England’s defense with 68 sacks, three sacks and seven quarterback hits.
Giants OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux vs. Patriots RT Mike Onwenu: The right side of New England’s offensive line has been a weakness, so the Giants would be smart to align Thibodeaux on that side. The second-year pro has had a breakout season with 10.5 sacks.
Giants CB Adoree’ Jackson vs. Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne: Jackson is back in the lineup after clearing concussion protocol, so he’ll be tasked with slowing down the Patriots’ leader in receiving yards (406) and touchdowns (four).
Injury Report:
Giants: OUT: RT Evan Neal (ankle); DOUBTFUL: DL Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), WR Darius Slayton (neck); QUESTIONABLE: RB Eric Gray (ankle).
Patriots: QUESTIONABLE: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (hamstring), OT Trent Brown (ankle), CB Jonathan Jones (knee), WR DeVante Parker (concussion), OL Reilly Reiff (knee), SpT Matthew Slater (ankle), DL Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder).
Giant Facts: Head coach Brian Daboll (assistant coach from 2000-01, 2002-06, 2013, 2014-16), offensive coordinator Mike Kafka (quarterback from 2010-11) and assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox (linebacker in 2001) all used to coach or play under Bill Belichick in New England. … Tommy DeVito is the first undrafted rookie quarterback to throw for at least five touchdowns in his first two starts (Minnesota’s Todd Bouman in 2001, Cincinnati’s Greg Cook in 1969, Buffalo’s Johnny Green in 1960). … The Giants allowed five sacks in the first quarter last week against the Commanders, the most by any NFL team since 2006.
The Prediction: Giants 17, Patriots 13
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