The Detroit Lions moved a step closer to winning their first NFC North title in 23 years with a nerve-wracking 20-17 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. It was another stunning fourth-quarter escape by the Lions who have now won five consecutive games. They have now matched their longest winning streak since 2011 when they started 5-0.
To no one’s surprise, it was Matthew Stafford who was once again the catalyst for Detroit’s latest comeback. After throwing two interceptions in the fourth quarter, Stafford quickly redeemed himself by scoring the game-winning touchdown with 3:17 left. He completed 21 of 35 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown in one of his most inefficient days of the year.
That uneven performance can be attributed to the fact that he suffered a nasty finger injury on Sunday. Stafford hurt the tip of the middle finger on his throwing hand when he “clapped hands” with Chicago linebacker Leonard Floyd in the first quarter. Prior to that incident, Stafford completed his first six passes for 60 yards. After the injury, he completed only 15 of 29 passes for 163 yards with a TD and the aforementioned two interceptions — including one pick in the red zone (Stafford’s first since the 2014 season) and a pick-six (his first since last season).
The good news for Detroit fans is that Stafford is good to go for Sunday’s crunch clash with the New York Giants. He will more than likely play with a glove to protect his dislocated thumb and the torn ligaments in his middle finger. Stafford’s role in Detroit’s resurgence can’t be understated. He now has eight game-winning drives in the fourth quarter/overtime, the most in a single season since the 1970 merger.
Even with Stafford not at a hundred percent, the Lions will still fancy their chances against the Giants because of their excellent defense. The Lions have given up 20 or fewer points in seven consecutive games in one season for the first time since 1961.
The New York Giants will head into their showdown with the Detroit Lions with momentum on their side after beating the highly-fancied Dallas Cowboys, 10-7, on Sunday. Odell Beckham scored the game-winning touchdown for the Giants who snapped the Cowboys’ 11-match winning streak. The Giants are the only team in the NFL to beat Dallas this season. And they did it twice.
So what’s their secret? New York’s defense took center stage on Sunday, limiting rookie Dak Prescott to only 165 passing yards. The Giants harassed the rookie QB all night long, sacking him three times. That constant pressure took its toll on Prescott who also threw a pair of interceptions.
The Giants’ D pulled this off even without star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul who’s out for at least six weeks because of sports hernia surgery. Stepping up big time in Pierre-Paul’s absence was Romeo Okwara. He led the Giants with eight tackles on Sunday. Okwara also registered his first career sack and had three quarterback hits against Dallas.
The Giants will need to apply that same kind of defensive pressure against the injured Matt Stafford this coming Sunday. The Giants are seventh in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing just 18.8 points per game this season.
Another guy who needs to step up for New York is Eli Manning. He struggled mightily in the win against Dallas, completing just 17 of 28 passes for 193 yards, one TD and one interception. He also had two fumbles on Sunday. Manning will look to find some success against a Detroit secondary that’s allowing 252.5 yards per game through the air this season, 20th in the NFL.
The Giants are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Giants (-4.5) keep the momentum going with a 27-20 victory.
