Detroit Lions (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) vs. New York Giants (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS)
Week 2 NFL
Date/Time: Monday Night Football, September 18, 2017 at 8:30PM EST
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: ESPN
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: DET +3.5/NYG -3.5
Over/Under Total: 43.5
The Detroit Lions come to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in big week two NFC action from East Rutherford. The Lions got off to a very successful start, overcoming a 10-0 Cardinals lead at home to win going away, 35-23. They look forward to more of the same, but will be facing an irritated Giants bunch that was beaten up some in a tough road loss to a team they swept last season in the Cowboys, 19-3. The Giants have some work to do this week and after an 11-5 season last year, an 0-2 start would really hurt. Look for a high-effort MNF this week.
The Lions looked like they were in a little trouble on Sunday in week one. Some may remember that last season, Detroit set a record by winning 8 games where they trailed in the final quarter and this year began the exact same way, as Detroit put up 20 in the 4th quarter to seal the win. It looked dire, when Matthew Stafford saw his first toss get picked off and run back 82 yards for a score. And it would be until deep in he second quarter when Detroit hit the scoreboard with a Stafford TD connection to receiver Marvin Jones. A 58-yarder by Matt Prater helped just before the half. Stafford threw his 2nd TD score to Theo Reddick late in the third to get to within two points. Then we saw a rookie who might make a difference, with receiver Kenny Golladay catching two last-quarter TD passes to take over the game, with a Lions pick and TD return by Miles Killebrew sealing it for good.
Stafford was good in his first game since signing a record contract. He was 29/41 with 292 yards and 4 touchdowns, three of the coming late when they needed it most. They are building quite a rep as a late-surging team, a trait that is worth its weight in gold. Golden Tate caught ten balls for over 100 yards, but the emergence of Golladay gives them their first big-body WR threat since the days of Megatron. Either way, Stafford seemed to find him a very-desirable target. Again, the Detroit run-game languishes, despite having nice talent like Ameer Abdullah and Dwayne Washington.
The Lions defense clamped down when it needed to and made a lot of big plays on Sunday. They secured four turnovers, including three Carson Palmer interceptions. There was the Killebrew pick-six, with Glover Quin and Tavon Wilson also getting picks. With Darius Slay back there, this is a secondary that can get things done. They got a big game from rookie linebacker Jarrad Davis, who was all over the field. On the inside up-front, A'Shawn Robinson and Haloti Ngata were key in preventing the Arizona run-game from getting untracked. All told, it was a very positive Sunday for the Lions.
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The Giants didn't look ready for the start of the season on Sunday Night Football, completely stagnating against the Cowboys. Sure, Dallas is good and things seemed to line up well for them starting the season fast. The Giants look to even their mark and get back on the winning track against a team they beat 17-6 last season. The defense is really going to have to play well again. If week one was any indication, the offense is not going to be a bankable group.
Last season, the Giants switched roles and did an about-face by going to a team that depended on defense. A bunch of offseason moves were made and just about all of them panned out, while developing youngsters hit their stride. The offense became almost a roadblock to victory, scoring less than 20 points per game. On Sunday, they managed a lone third quarter field goal. Granted, not having Odell Beckham in there is a big void to fill. Sterling Shepard and Brandon Marshall were pretty quiet on the receiving front, as youngster Roger Lewis and RB Shane Vereen led the team in receiving. The aerial aspect of this team with Eli Manning really seems to underachieve, even with Beckham, who could return this week. Regardless, to see them labor so badly against a team they swept last season was hard to watch for Giants' fans.
The Giants' defense has learned to not depend on the offense, but they got even less support in week one. They still did well, holding a potent Dallas home offense to just 19 points. Prescott put up 268 yards and Ezekiel Elliott was over 100 yards, but all they could manage was one touchdown. Other than a 13-point second-quarter, the defense was really tough. In his first start, linebacker BJ Goodson as a menace with 14 solo tackles. Olivier Vernon got a sack and young and growing members of the secondary like Eli Apple and Landon Collins were in on a lot of plays. Again, if the Giants languish this season, it will not because of this side of the ball.
It's tempting to give edges to teams like the Giants at home when they really need to win a game. And they did beat the Lions last season in not too difficult of a win. But I see Detroit feeling the urgency in this spotlight game and matching the Giants' energy and hunger. At the end of the day, I see the defenses of both teams perhaps shining brighter than the offenses. I'm taking the "under."
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