GAMEDAY Open Thread/Live Blog: Giants at Lions | Week 8
The 2-5 New York Giants will try to snap a three-game losing streak against the 2-3-1 Detroit Lions. This is the 45th regular-season meeting between the two teams, with the Lions currently holding a 22-21-1 advantage.
The Giants have had their share of struggles, particularly on offense where for three weeks in a row, they've been unable to generate more than 263 yards total offense.
If the Giants can sustain drives against the Lions, who have the league's 31st-ranked defense, that could go a long way of neutralizing the threat posed by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Lions, who enter this week's game with the eighth-best offense in the league.
Join us as we live-blog and discuss DETvsNYG here in our weekly GAMEDAY Open Thread. Dive into the conversation by going to the top of the site, and in the upper right-hand corner of the page, click the FOLLOWING button.
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Pregame
Here is the Giants inactive list:
And here is the Lions' list:
Pat Ragazzo has more information on this week's inactives for both sides, including lineup changes.
This is a pretty cool (and I think new) feature from Giants.com.
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The Lions won the coin toss. Giants will receive.
First Quarter
Giants first drive begins with a 10-yard gain to Cody Latimer, but ends with Saquon Barkley coming up a yard short of the first down.
Matthew Stafford (DET) has 195 completions in the 1st quarter since the start of the 2017 season -- 4th most among QBs in NFLTweet via @IE_NFL
8:46: After looking unstoppable, the Lions drive ends on an ill-advised throw intended for Marvin Jones which is picked off by Janoris Jenkins. He now has 4 INT in the last 5 games and has tied his career-high set with the Rams in 2012.
7:20: Bad mistake by Saquon Barkley, who appeared to be unsure as to whether the loose ball that ensued after Daniel Jones was sacked by Jarrad Davis was live.
It was indeed live and former Giants LB Devon Kennard recovers and returns the live ball 13 yards for a touchdown, his first TD of his career. Meanwhile, Jones, who now has 13 turnovers in his career, continues to have trouble feeling the pressure in the pocket. Lions 7, Giants 0.
6:19: The Giants' second drive wasn't much better as Daniel Jones and the Giants go three-and-out.
Jones avoids being charged with an Interception when Lions defender Tarcy Walker was ruled out of bounds.
Daniel Jones has averaged 190.7 Passing Yards per game (1,144/6) this season -- 5th worst of 32 Qualified QBs in NFL; League Avg: 217.3
2:39: Stafford pass connects with Marvin Hall for a 49-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-15.
There looked liek there was a miscommunication there that left Hall to run wide open. Lions 14, Giants 0.
Stafford has thrown 63 TD passes since the 2017 season -- 9th most of 81 Qualified QBs in NFL.
:36: Jones hits Evan Engram for 18 yards. Engram has been targeted 24 times on 1st down this season -- 3rd most among TEs in NFL.
:01: The Giants end a miserable first quarter with an offensive pass interference penalty called against receiver Bennie Fowler. Lions up 14-0.
Second Quarter
13:30: Golden Tate comes up with a Giants first down. Tate picked up 14 yards after the catch. Tate does such a nice job of picking up yards after the catch.
12:34: Jones connects with Darius Slayton out of the slot for a 22-yard touchdown catch.
Good pass and read by Jones, who completed all of his pass attempts on that drive, and nice job by Slayton to go for the ball at its high point. Lions 14, Giants 7.
8:55: The Lions, who had been perfect on third down, come up short as Giants ILB Alec Ogletree stops Marvin Jones short of the first-down marker.
8:14: Matt Prater, who had the league's longest streak of converting FGAs of 50+ yards (seven) then hits a 53-yarder wide right. Lions 14, Giants 7
6:01: With Nick Gates serving as the extra blocker, Eli Penny plows up the middle on 3rd-and-1 to gain three yards and the first down for the Giants.
Meanwhile, former Giants defensive lineman Damon Harrison, who came into this game with a groin strain, was injured on the play.
4:45: Jones connects with Darius Slayton on a 28-yard touchdown pass against man coverage, but Aldrick Rosas misses the extra point wide left.
The Jones-Slayton connection has been rather impressive so far this season. Coming into this game, Slayton had a 116.6 NFL rating catching passes from Jones, the best of the Giants receivers this season.
2:38: Grant Haley sacks Matthew Stafford for -6 yards. Stafford has been sacked 28 times on 3rd and long since the start of the 2017 season -- tied for most among QBs in NFL.
2:00: We're at the two-minute warning.
STAT NOTE: Stafford has completed 11 of 15 passes (73.3%). That would equal his high this season.
INJURY UPDATE: Lions say DT Damon Harrison is questionable to return with a groin injury.
1:59: Awful penalty called on David Mayo, who was flagged for running into the kicker.
Mayo was on the ground and blocked into punter Sam Martin afte simply touching his ankle. It also gives the Lions a fresh set of downs and a chance to score.
If that's not bad enough, the Lions get the ball to start the second half.
0:25: Thanks to the fresh set of downs on a phathom penalty. the Lions manage to come away with a field goal on Matt Parter's 52-yard field goal. Lions 17, Giants 13
0:11: Jones tried to connect again with Slayton along the sideline but the receiver drops this one. The Giants then kneel to close out the half.
Halftime Score: Lions 17, Giants 13
Third Quarter
12:35: Stafford connects with Kenny Golladay on third and long for 25 yards. That's the fourth pass play of 20+ yards allowed by the Giants on the day.
New York came into this week's game having given up the second most 20+ yard plays this season.
9:56: Stafford connects with Golladay for a 9-yard touchdown catch on a play that Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker should have tried to at least make a play on the ball.
Stafford has thrown 9 TD passes in the red zone this season -- tied for 4th most of 39 Qualified QBs in NFL. Lions 24, Giants 13.
9:06: This is what the Giants needed. Jones connects with Barkley for 38 yards, the Giants longest play of the day.
Barkley stumbled but still did a nice job to pick up yardage.
7:27: Jones picks up four yards on the run, but also draws a roughing call against Jarrad Davis, who hit him when Jones was giving himself up.
6:23: Lions had stopped the Giants, but defensive holding called against Justin Coleman gives the Giants new life.
4:59: After calling a time out, Jones finds Evan Engram for the 2-yard touchdown.
Engram has been targeted 232 times since the start of the 2017 season -- 4th most among TEs in NFL .
The Giants are going for two, but Jones' pass to Slayton is no good. Lions 24, Giants 19
MILESTONE: Daniel Jones is the first Giants rookie QB to throw three TDs on the road since Phil Simms did it on Dec. 9, 1979 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
1:03: Melvin's penalty against Bennie Fowler gives the Giants a fresh set of downs.
0:38: And after the Giants execute a perfect flea-flicker, a holding penalty against Nae Solder wipes it out.
0:02: Jones to Engram for a gain of 9 to end the third quarter. Lions 24, Giants 19
Fourth Quarter
MILESTONE NOTE:
STAT: Offenses facing the Giants have thrown the ball 51.1% of the time (143 Pass Attempts/280 plays) in close and late situations since the start of last season -- 5th lowest in NFL; League Avg: 55.2%.
You wonder if that's going to change this quarter.
12:21: Some razzle-dazzle by the Lions on a flea-flicker as Stafford connects with Golladay for 41 yards. Lions 31, Giants 19.
8:02: Jones has been sacked twice by Trey Flowers who destroyed Nate Solder. On the first sack, Jones lost the ball but fell on it.
STAT NOTE: The Lions defense sacked opponents 15 times on 3rd and long last season -- tied for most in NFL
6:30: Giants fo for it on 4th-and-6 with a pass attempt to Golden Tate, but Justin Coleman, in man coverage, knocks it away and very nearly comes up with an interception. Lions brought seven men at Jones.
5:58: Dalvin Tomlinson pulls Matthew Stafford down to the ground for a sack for minus-9 yards.
5:15: Lions receiver Kenny Golladay looks like he lost the handle on that pass after being hit by Jabrill Peppers. Antoine Bethea looks like he recovered the ball.
4:34: Nice one-handed catch by Cody Latimer who also dida nice job of making sure he got both feet in bounds.
3:31: The Lions got away with a defensive hold on a 3rd-and-11 to Darius Slayton. Then on 4th-and-11, the Lions appear to be engaged in holding again, but the officials picked up the flag.
I don't hold it against Shurmur for not challenging the lack of DPI. What I question is the decision to chases points in the third quarter.
1:54: Mike Remmers is shaken up inside of the 2:00 minute period. Giants are charged a time out and there was a 10-second runoff. Nick Gates replaced Remmers for a play.
1:23: On 3rd-and-3, Jones throws his fourth touchdown pass of the day, connecting with Saquon Barkley for the 4-yard score. That missed PAT and that decision to go for 2 in the third quarter is looming large. Lions 31, Giants 26.
The onside kick goes out of bounds. Detroit ball. Game over as the Giants are out of time outs.
0:00: That's a wrap. The Giants have lost four straight.
