ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions are back at home, kicking off a three-game stretch against the New York Giants (2-9) this Sunday afternoon.
Don’t blink, because the Lions host the Giants, then the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving and then the Dallas Cowboys on the following Thursday night.
See below for three burning questions before Sunday’s game against the Giants:
#### **This seems like the week for Detroit’s rushing attack to go off, right?**
If the Lions struggle to get their rushing attack going this weekend, then feel free to panic.
Through the last five games, the Giants are allowing 6 yards per carry and 175.2 rushing yards each time out. New York’s run defense ranks 32nd, allowing 5.2 yards per attempt. They rank 30th in rushing touchdowns allowed, 31st in rushing yards allowed, and on top of that, they are the league’s worst red-zone defense. The Packers, even after watching top running back Josh Jacobs get hurt, ran for 128 yards on 23 attempts against the Giants last week.
The Lions ran for fewer than 100 yards for the fourth time of the season in Philadelphia last week. Detroit rushed for less than 100 yards in only one game last year, representing another dip in 2025.
Jahmyr Gibbs was one of the team’s bright spots last weekend. But he did most of his damage through the air, catching five passes for 107 yards. He ran 12 times for 39 yards. David Montgomery had more success, but ran only six times for 27 yards as the Lions struggled to get anything going. Dan Campbell said he always wants to get Montgomery more involved, something he did in his first game calling the offense. But his role slipped last week.
The Giants have surrendered 100-plus rushing yards in all but one game in 2025, when they held the lowly New Orleans Saints to 88 yards.
“Well, we’re giving him a lot,” offensive coordinator John Morton said of Gibbs. “You’ve got to look at who you have. And it’s just like talking about having to create a way to find ways to get guys the ball, especially when (Sam) LaPorta’s down. So, other guys have got to step up.
“But listen, he’s really smart, he’s really detailed when he gets the ball. And even if he screws up a little detail, and he gets the ball in his hands, I mean, you saw it. So, defenses are scared of something like that, and it helps. It’s going to help everybody. But he’s fun. He’s fun to watch. Run, pass, everything. Pretty cool.”
#### **What are the strengths of this scrappy, struggling New York Giants team?**
Even with Kayvon Thibodeaux out, these Giants have a ton of talent in the defensive trenches. The first-round pick trio of Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Dexter Lawrence is enough to make anyone sweat.
Throw in the fact that four members of Detroit’s offensive line are questionable with injuries after a rougher-than-usual start to the season, and yeah, it’s a matchup to watch. The battle in the trenches is how the Giants could find themselves in another tight game, if they can get to Jared Goff regularly.
Carter isn’t getting home for sacks (0.5) to start his NFL career. But Burns sure is, sitting second in the league with 13 sacks. Burns is 18th in the NFL with 37 pressures, and Carter isn’t far behind with 35, highlighting the ability those two have to crush either side of the pocket. Burns has four double-digit sack games this season and has gotten to the quarterback in all but one game through 11 weeks.
Lawrence can beat you in a number of ways. He has 22 pressures while ranking as the third-best pass-rusher at his position, per Pro Football Focus. Lawrence is a three-time Pro Bowler, and a load to handle at 6-foot-4, 340 pounds, presenting another beefy challenge for Detroit’s interior offensive line.
“Got a lot of respect for him (Lawrence), the way he plays -- big man,” Campbell said. “Can cover ground, get edges, push the pocket, shut down the run, good player.
“Burns, heat off the edge. I think a lot of it starts with those two players.”
#### **How are the Lions approaching this jam-packed stretch of three games?**
At 6-4, sitting third in the NFC North and outside of the playoff picture as things stand, every game has an extra edge to it in Detroit.
They aren’t sleeping on these Giants, either. Sure, New York is 2-9 and less than two weeks removed from firing head coach Brian Daboll. Heck, they have started three different quarterbacks, and are missing two of their young stars (Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo) to season-ending injuries.
Still, the Giants have found ways to keep games competitive, with four of their losses coming via blown fourth-quarter leads. It would be easy to look ahead to an enticing matchup against the Packers on Thanksgiving. But with where the Lions are and how the Giants have hung in games, they can’t look past anyone, and they know it.
They are also balancing some players who are banged up and others who are close to returning. D.J. Reed sounds like he could return as the team’s top cornerback. But they aren’t activating Marcus Davenport or Miles Frazier yet, and cornerback Terrion Arnold and safety Kerby Joseph are out again this weekend, too.
The Lions are coming off a putrid offensive performance, with their defense doing their best to carry the team. This is a chance to find their offensive rhythm while continuing to flex that defensive muscle against an inferior opponent.
“We would love to be sitting here undefeated right now, and that’s not the reality; we’re not undefeated,” Campbell said. “But there’s an urgency that’s there. And I know this, if you say well, let’s ramp up more urgency, that’s when you start making mistakes, that’s when you start panicking, that’s when guys start doing things they shouldn’t do.
“They’re trying to make plays, and then they cost us all. That’s where bad stuff really happens because that means you don’t really believe in what you’re doing. You’re grasping for straws.”
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