Dec 22, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) drops back to pass during overtime against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Giants beat the Lions 23-20. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants (0-0) at Detroit Lions (0-0)
Monday, 7:10 p.m. ET, at Ford Field, Detroit – TV: ESPN
*TV announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
*Keys to the game: The Lions will bring a beastly pass rush at the Giants’ untested offensive line that is built more to plow running lanes for RBs Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams. The goal is to invite quarterback Eli Manning to beat them through the air.
The same is true for the Lions, who are preaching balance to solve Matthew Stafford’s own turnover troubles (13 TDs, 13 INTs in the final eight games of 2013). In Joique Bell, the Lions have a tested complement to RB Reggie Bush, and new coach Jim Caldwell wants the overall approach to be more conservative. Stafford has a few new weapons to stretch the field and test the Giants’ secondary; watch for him to take a few deep shots early.
*Matchup to watch – Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie vs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson: Megatron was not at full strength when these teams met last season, and the Giants held him to three receptions for 43 yards in Week 16. Rodgers-Cromartie only gave up 100 receiving yards to an opponent twice in the regular season with the Broncos last season, in Week 3 vs. the Raiders and Week 5 vs. the Cowboys.
*Player spotlight – Lions TE Eric Ebron: The first-round pick is a rare athlete and has a size-speed advantage over MLB Jon Beason, who is scraping to return from a June foot injury. When Ebron attracts bodies inside, Stafford can look to another newcomer, WR Golden Tate.
*Fast facts: The Lions (minus-12) and Giants (minus-15) were a combined minus-27 in takeaways last season. … Manning’s 151 consecutive starts leads active quarterbacks.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
These teams have played four overtime games in 41 all-time meetings (20-20-1 overall record) and are closely matched in many facets. At home, the high-energy Lions rush rattles Manning into a few costly mistakes to separate late.
*Our pick: Lions 26-20
