Giants prepare for stiff test from Lions' high-powered offense
Lions quarterback Jared Goff throws during the first half of an NFL game against the Packers on Nov. 6 in Detroit. Credit: AP/Duane Burleson
They rank sixth in the NFL (and second in the NFC) in yards per game and ninth in the league in points per game.
They have scored 30 or more points in four of nine games, and 24 or more in six.
They lead the NFC in plays that gained 20 or more yards.
Their quarterback ranks third in the NFC in touchdown passes and fourth in passer rating.
They are . . . the Lions? The Detroit Lions, who only recently ended a five-game losing streak by winning their past two games by a combined seven points?
It’s true. Even though the Lions are a mere 3-6, they will bring one of the league’s more formidable offenses to MetLife Stadium to face the Giants on Sunday.
How is that possible? It is possible because Detroit’s defense is awful, ranking last in the league in both total yards and points per game.
But for the Giants' defense, this figures to be a challenging day at the office.
Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson reeled off the names and skill sets of every prominent Lions offensive player – and each player’s alma mater – then pronounced them a stiff test.
“They put up a lot of points,” he said. “They have a lot of weapons around them. They have fun. You can see it on the film. They play for each other, regardless of the score or the situation.”
Safety Julian Love, “They have, No. 1, talented players, and No. 2, they’re playing to their strengths as players. The coach is dialing up some good plays for them.
“They’re playing to what their guys are good at. It’s always the same mindset with us. Keep the ball in front of us, stop the run. Week to week, that’s our mindset.”
The idea will be to control quarterback Jared Goff and his friends and not put undue pressure on the Daniel Jones-and-Saquon Barkley-heavy Giants offense.
Goff has shown flashes of what he did with the Rams before joining the Lions last season.
He has 15 touchdown passes against seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 93.7.
Jamaal Williams has 604 rushing yards and nine rushing TDs and D’Andre Swift has 253 rushing yards, a 6.3-yard average and two TDs.
Overall, the Lions have 11 rushing touchdowns, their most through nine games since 1989, when they had a rookie back named Barry Sanders.
Amon-Ra St. Brown has 49 receptions for 518 yards and three touchdowns. Kalif Raymond has 23 catches for 302 yards.
Jackson played with Raymond as Titans and called him a “real (speed) burner.”
“They create explosive plays,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “Goff plays at a high level; he’s a very accurate passer downfield, intermediate, off the play action.
“And then their two runners have taken it to the distance a few times. They’re both a little bit different, but both very good.”
Daboll added that the Lions also excel in the red zone, where they have finished drives with touchdowns at a high rate.
But it is their big-play ability that stands out most. Said Daboll, “We’re going to have to do a good job of trying to slow them down and make sure we’re tackling and not giving up 50-yard runs that they break through, taking care of the deep part of the field.”
The Giants will be looking to improve to 8-2, but they do not expect a laugher. That is not their thing. Even at five games over .500, their point differential is a modest plus-14.
Each of their seven victories has been by eight points or fewer, while four of the Lions six losses have been by four points or fewer.,
So figure on a close game, and figure on a high-scoring one.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
