Detroit Lions at New York Giants: 5 Things to Watch For

Probably one of the most underrated games of Week 2 this NFL season is the Detroit Lions and New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

It’s a Monday night affair on primetime between two teams that made the playoffs last season. Two teams that are aching to get back and prove they are even better this year. Thus far the jury is still out on that. Detroit started off strong at home while New York fell flat in Dallas. There is every reason to think a hint of desperation will be played with in this game.

For the Giants it’s because they need to get a win to avoid starting 0-2. For the Lions it’s about keeping their momentum in what might be arguably one of the best divisions in football. Which team comes out on top? Here are some keys to the game that will help decide it.

The stamina of the Giants defense

Everybody knows the script by now. The Lions will start the game slow. It will be close for the first three quarters and inevitably they’ll find themselves behind late. Then they’ll roar back to win the game in the 4th. It’s okay to trust that because they’ve done it nine times since the beginning of last season. Few teams have proven able to change that script short of the playoffs in January. This is what Matthew Stafford does and he’s good at it.

For the Giants defense it’s going to be a grueling test. Odds are they’re going to be on the field a lot in this game unless they can consistently get off the field quickly. Stamina is always the biggest thing against an offense like this. Can they maintain their high level of play for 60 minutes. Most who are presented that question find out the answer the hard way. Given the inconsistencies on offense, New York must trust their D.