Two Challenges for Giants in Detroit...

and we have a good chance imv

considering their 0-6 start last year and John Mara's post season comments, I think there is also considerable pressure on the Giants to start out with a win.

Their offense is going through an overhaul as well, and hasn't looked sharp in the preseason either.

Our defense is superior.

This is a good game to put in the W column, as wins might be at a premium to start the season.

Tough game. On the road in primetime against a solid team with an a very good offense & a top DL.

You know Detroit will be stoked. Home opener and on nationally to boot. I do think they will keep it close. This is a much deeper defense then they have had in years. The pass rush may not be as fearsome as in the past but they still have guys who can get to the quarterback.

My fear is that the defense could get worn down if the offense does not move the ball and that could eventually lead to the Lions putting it out of reach. And after what we saw in preseason it's anybody's guess what we will see.

I don't think there is a much pressure on the Giants as there is on the Lions. As a matter of fact I don't think there is really any pressure on the Giants. No one expects them to win what with the offensive ineptitude the showed in preseason. However, If they lose and play a close competitive game then it could be something to build upon.

If they win, depending on the nature then expectations start build.

what happens in preseason, means nothing.....

What do you think when the team goes 5-0, and the first team plays like crap on offense?

If the team went 0-5, but the offense looked like it was executing plays, would we be as nervous? It's 5 games, and the OL has been a plug and play merry go round......how can it possibly be ready for the first game? Detroit will test this line with stunts and blitzes, to try and confuse it....

Yes, the Detroit secondary supposedly sucks.....but can this less than stellar set of WR's & TE's take advantage of it? If they take away Cruz, can Randle step up? This is his shot, will he take advantage of it? If the TE's can't produce, even with this line, will the Giants go to 4 WR's?

We saw power running in preseason.....this line looked better run blocking, than pass blocking, but can it consistently convert 3rd and short?

And then we have Eli.....The one good drive he had in preseason, was tempered with a non interception......can Eli consistently throw a good short pass? Can he ELIminate the "faux pas's" he tends to make?.....he has to play within himself, and not force things.....his RB's have to protect him, and they will be important in the passing game, slipping out of the backfield....can these guys break a few runs to make this defense respect the run, as well as the pass?

Detroit screwed the pooch last year.....they were still in the playoffs when they faced the Giants....a tipped pass, returned by Hill for a TD, ended their season......in that game Calvin Johnson was not 100%......I look for him to line up on Prince, not just because of the groin, but because Prince has problems with tall receivers, never mind that this is Megatron....

On defense, can Beason just step on the field after just one week of practice, and be a force like last year? Will this line generate pressure on Stafford?

On the road, Monday night game, I think this OL has growing pains, and the Giants offense comes up short.....

They are very good against the run but are average pass rushing. Can we keep the run game going enough to stay balanced on offense and not be in to many 3rd and longs? Or even just run enough to keep them honest so they cant load up on obvious passing situations. We have the RB to do the job but the OL must at least be average.

I'm pretty confident our D can hold their own. The Lions were just average as an offensive team. Better passing below average running. Can we hold them to 20 points? If so, we can win.

Prince and Beason they have Thurmond back in the slot. The Dline won't get sacks but the back 7 will cause pressure on Stafford. The Giants will run the ball and throw screens to slow down the rush. Detroit's back 7 are below average. Eli will have opportunities.

about the "down the field" bombs to Johnson. He'll do most of his damage on 15-20 yard patterns where the RAC will take him further.

He isn't their deep threat.

if there were 3 or more holding penalties by our OL. similarly, i'd bet suh gets flagged at least twice for hands to the face or RTP (the guy just can't help himself.)

lions are going to stack the line and pull their dbs up too. wouldn't be surprised if giants first 2 series weren't 3 and outs with neither back being able to break 5+ yrd runs. then, hopefully, things will settle down. low scoring first half.

to attack Giant linebackers in space with crossing routes, passes out to their TEs and RB screens. Still a weak area for the Giants and Beason won't be on the field for every snap.

The Detroit Defense will simply do what every other Defense will do...play heavy against the run and force the Giants to actually complete passes to move the football. Until they start doing it, no one will believe they can get first downs consistently.

either and that might also help our rush. Hopefully Moore will get some opportunity to rush on passing downs too.

Turnovers - can we create and recover more? With Suh and Fairley barreling down on Eli, it will be tough, particularly if we fall behind.

Running/TOP - can we control the ball and give our O more chances to score? I would love to see a new 3rd down D from our team. We have been very poor at this for a long time.

Lions 17

Detroit lost 6 of their last 7 last season, including the final 4 games - one of those losses at home to the Giants.

Meanwhile, the Giants closed their season at a robust 7-3.

And the Giants improved their secondary, O-Line and offensive backfield in the off-season.

.

has appeared improved and may be ok. The offense has looked terrible , particularly in pass protection. A dangerous game for us and ELI because Detroit has a mean and very potent rush line. Could get really ugly. Remembering the Panther game last year.

when they were trying to make the playoffs, right?

Last year, the Lions were ranked #6 against the run, #10 against the pass (although they were near the bottom in sacks, #28). If we can run the ball against Detroit, we should be able to run on anybody. We must be efficient, though, and severely limit the penalties and turnovers.

...can the defense keep it close until the offense can get it into gear?

Avoiding turnovers should be of paramount importance in this game.

Are Eli and the WRs/TEs on the same page? Because even if the OL gives Eli time to pass, if the pass receiver goes one way and the pass the other, then disaster.

Can the Giants pressure Stafford? If so, then he may just put the ball up for grabs against the very good (on paper) Giants DBs.

yeah, the offense is a work in progress - last year it was a train wreck in progress. Giants should win this game.

last year, old staff but many returnees on D. Tough to run against. Excellent defending red zone, Looks like McCoattails will have his work cut out for him. No TE or running QB makes the red zone very tough for NFL offenses but the Lions are cowardly at Corner. Maybe "All he does is score touchdowns" Washington? Have to get close first. In a dome environment with a crowd full of drunk former auto workers , the edge is difficult to pass block. They tend to get that "legally off-sides" head start.

To have a shot! I just don't know how we get there! I hope I'm wrong.

'The Giants will throw screen passes to slow down the pass rush'??

That'd be nice but it seem that they haven't thrown a screen pass successfully since barber retired

that the Giants excel at screen passes. It could get them out of jams this year.

While preseason is preseason, if you believe anything you saw this game sets up pretty poorly for us. They have a good DL regardless of the back 7 and have an explosive group on O.

We have no proven big play guys save Cruz, a leaky OL, a struggling O, and our front 7 on D while a potentially decent group has much to prove between youth, injury, mediocrity and play making ability (or lack of even if JPP picks back up).

Save a huge turnaround on O, this almost looks like a game where Eli's best strategy IS to manage the game / move the chains. Keep their O off the field, run if / as much as possible, get the pass game moving. Lions have many issues but it's possible Eli ends up running for his life all game while we get little to no pressure on Stafford...which would basically decide it

In comment 11837070 Dave said:

Quote:

'The Giants will throw screen passes to slow down the pass rush'?? That'd be nice but it seem that they haven't thrown a screen pass successfully since barber retired

Haven't really had a back with Barber's skillset.

Hillis (once caught 61 receptions) and Jennings are pass-catching RBs. Bradshaw and Jacobs kind of weren't.

will be our biggest challenges all year. Protect Eli & get a pass rush!! If we do both I think we'll have a good year. Another important stat will be our 3rd down conversion %. If we plan to run the ball more & have more short passes we'll probably be in a lot of 3rd & short situations. Gotta covert on 3rd & short.

We have to take advantage (Yes OL plays a part but ELI needs to be accurate on the quick hitters)

Also the Lions RT situation is simiiar to our interior line situation....

The game is winnable but we need an early score to give Eli some confidence (something we dont do well .... start fast)

But speaking of fast the no-huddle could help us ... see if we use it early