The New York Giants will travel on the road for the second consecutive week to face the New England Patriots in Week 13.
The Giants enter the contest seeking to end a six-game losing streak against one of the league’s premier teams. Meanwhile, the Patriots arrive on a nine-game winning streak and hold a 10-2 record for the season.
The Giants have opened as significant road underdogs this week — a development that should surprise no one, given the disparity in standings between the two clubs.
Here are three causes for concern ahead of Monday night’s matchup.
Patriots’ NFL-best nine-game winning streak
The Patriots may represent the league’s biggest surprise this season, not only reclaiming relevance but swiftly establishing themselves as potential Super Bowl contenders. During their nine-game winning streak, they have averaged more than 28 points per game. While the Patriots have secured several favorable matchups en route to this run, they have also defeated formidable opponents, including the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Giants’ messy defense
The Giants’ defense entered the season with lofty expectations of ranking among the league’s elite units. It has fallen well short of those projections, frequently yielding big plays in the running game and ranking among the NFL’s worst defensive groups through the first 12 weeks. This prompted the midseason dismissal of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, leaving the unit now under the guidance of interim coordinator Charlie Bullen. Even with an extra day of rest, the Giants face a steep challenge in adapting to new leadership ahead of Monday night’s clash with a formidable Patriots offense.
Drake Maye on fire
The young quarterback has made a substantial leap in his sophomore campaign, emerging as one of the league’s top signal-callers this season. Drake Maye leads the NFL in passing yards (3,130) and ranks fourth in passing touchdowns (21). The Patriots also boast the league’s highest team completion percentage (70.87). Maye and the Patriots’ aerial attack could overwhelm a Giants secondary that has shown marked inconsistency over the past several games.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants vs. Patriots: 3 causes for concern in Week 13
Reporting by Tyler Henry, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
