Giants score over 31 points
On a 1-5 football team, there have to be several flaws, but the offense has been an utter disappointment for the Giants virtually every time they touch the field. This comes despite the fact that they have some unbelievably talented skill players in Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley. However, the problems across the offensive line and ultimately quarterback have been too much for this team to overcome.
In six games this season, the Giants have managed to score over 20 points just once in a 33-31 loss to the Panthers, and their 13 point performance against the Eagles last Thursday night might be their worst to date. Fortunately, they face the softest defense in the NFL on Monday night. Something has to give, and I’m going with the Giants offense that will be coming into this matchup with extra rest and nothing to lose.
There’s an obvious reason why I believe the Giants will find success against the Falcons; his name is Saquon Barkley. Barkley has proven he was worth every bit of the #2 overall pick as a dynamic versatile threat. The Falcons have made average running backs look like All-Pros and All-Pros look like Barry Sanders. They simply can’t tackle anyone, and that is a recipe for disaster when facing Barkley. For one week, Giants fans will get a taste of what a smooth running offense looks like.
Vic Beasley Jr. racks up a couple sacks
I’ve been one of Beasley’s harshest critics, and for good reason, he has been dreadful the past two seasons. Last week against the Bucs, he went mostly unnoticed, like he usually does, for 60 minutes. So far in six games, he has only accounted for SIX tackles and just one measly sack. It has gotten to the point where you begin to wonder why he is even on the field.
But this week, I’m going to throw all of that aside in hopes that he can start to turn it around. The pressure is on for Beasley. People have forgotten about his bright rookie season and NFL sack-leading campaign in 2016. That Vic Beasley hasn’t been around for quite some time, and he’s a player on the fringe of a contract year. It is do or die time for the former #8 overall pick in 2015. If he can’t show some burst when facing a lowly Giants offensive line, there might be no hope.
Matt Ryan throws for 5 touchdowns
Like it will be until proven otherwise, for the Falcons to win they are going to have to put up 30+ points. I’ve already said the Giants will set a season-high in points, meaning Atlanta will probably have to put up 5 touchdowns if they want to come out victorious.
New York has allowed at least 33 points in each of their last three contests. Conversely, the Falcons are averaging over 34 points a game at home. If there is a matchup in this game that is clearly one-sided, it’s the Falcons offense versus a Giants defense that has been treading water, and more particularly Matt Ryan and his band of weapons against the New York secondary.
Atlanta is 2-4, so nobody is talking about the ridiculous numbers Ryan is putting up to keep these games as close as they are. He’s second in the league in passer rating at 113.6, which is just slightly behind the 117.1 rating he put up over his 2016 MVP campaign. His completion percentage is sniffing 70%, and he’s on pace for over 5,000 yards, 30 TDs and a career low in interceptions. Even the two picks he has thrown this season came off of a missed block from Austin Hooper and some miscommunication with Julio Jones.
Ryan is playing as good, if not better, than any quarterback in football and he’s going to show it on the National stage Monday Night.