With the Arizona Cardinals behind them, the Detroit Lions travel to New York as their next challenge will be against a stout Giants’ defense.
Poised to be a top defense in this league, playing the New York Giants is no joke. They had one of the best secondaries in the league last year with their breakout safety Landon Collins, and Jason Pierre-Paul is an elite pass rusher on their defensive line.
This will be a major test for the Detroit Lions‘ offense and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was just made the highest paid player ever in the NFL. Especially after the horrible start for Stafford during the Cardinals game. Stafford was able to arrange a comeback against the Cardinals with the help of the team’s defense.
The defense may be able to really help out the Lions, they were able to hold Arizona running back David Johnson as well as get to quarterback Carson Palmer often. They kept the Lions in the game on Sunday as the offense struggled to get their feet. With two forced fumbles, three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, and a sack by defensive end Anthony Zettel, the Lions had one of their best performances since 2014 when they ranked as one of the best in the league.
Now they head to New York, to face the Giants, a team who had a top defense last season and an elite quarterback/wide receiver duo who have been known to make huge plays. For this game, the Lions offense will be tested. The defensive line has shown that they can provide pressure to the quarterback, and without a legitimate run game from running back Paul Perkins, the Lions can focus on coverage.
The big challenge will be for quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Ameer Abdullah to light up the field while Collins and Pierre-Paul breathe down their neck. Abdullah will have his work cut out for him trying to get passed middle linebacker B.J. Goodson who had a day Sunday night slowing down Cowboy’s running back Ezekiel Elliott.
If Detroit can get the ball moving early on offense, unlike what they did against the Cardinals, they will have a chance to wear out the Giants’ defense. They will need to have a similar performance against quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., if he is able to play, that they had this past Sunday.
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Lions’ wide receiver Golden Tate and safety Glover Quin will need to have big days again, getting chunk yardage on offense, and winning the turnover battle on defense. If the Motor City pulls off a win on Monday night, they will have changed the narrative on the team and defeated two opponents most expected them to lose to.