Giants-Lions Picks, Predictions: What The BBV Staff Says

Can the New York Giants avoid the dreaded 0-2 start by defeating the Detroit Lions in their home opener on Monday Night Football? Here is how your Big Blue View staff contributors answered that question.

Dan Pizzuta

(0-1 straight up)

If you want to be optimistic about an offensive turnaround in Week 2, there’s a few places to look. Obviously there’s the possible return of Odell Beckham. But also, the Giants could get a little help from special teams. In Week 1, the Giants ranked last in average starting field position per drive -- their own 15 yard line. That’s tough for any offense to start from, especially one that just might be bad. But that’s searching for the slightest signs of light.

This is another matchup that features strength vs. strength on one side of the ball and weakness vs. weakness on the other side. Last week I thought that favored the Giants and I was wrong. Last week both the Detroit strength and weakness played better than the Giants. Detroit’s defense played well against the Arizona Cardinals last week and even if they’re not as good as they were then, they still look much improved from the pushover unit that was last in defensive DVOA last season.

Until this offense proves it can move the ball at all against any defense, it’s going to be hard to pick them.

Final score: Lions 21, Giants 17

Kevin Haswell

(0-1 straight up)

The Giants offense comes out strong with Odell Beckham back on the field. The defense puts a lot of pressure on Matt Stafford. The game comes down to the the fourth and the Giants prevail.

Final score: Giants 31, Lions 24

Mike Gallop

(0-1 straight up)

It seems pretty apparent that our offense without Beckham is rather offensive. I do think Dallas has a better D than Detroit, and I'm hopeful Beckham plays on MNF. I do have faith in our defense holding the Lions under 20 points, which "should" be enough for Eli and company to eek out a win.

Final score: Giants 21 Lions 17

Chris Pflum

(0-1 straight up)

As I told the Lions Pridecast folks when they invited me on for their preview podcast, I openly admit to having no clue as to what this game could look like. The Giants have a habit of, just when you think you have them pegged, going against their trends. Making matters worse are the questions about Odell Beckham Jr and Bobby Hart. Will either play? Will the offensive line get reshuffled?

I think the best thing for them is to come out and actually field a functioning, winning offense in the absence of Beckham. The entire thrust of their offseason has been to build an offense where the game plan isn't "Odell and a prayer," and they need to show up and act like it. They need Brandon Marshall and Evan Engram to show up. They need to commit to running the ball and actually attacking the defense. Will they do it? I don't know.

Will that happen? Like I said: I have no clue. However, I'm resorting to my mode of thinking from the middle of last year: I won't predict them to win until they give me reason to (on offense). It's been half a season since they've scored 20 points, and they haven't touched 30 since Week 17 of 2015. They have better weapons on offense than when they were a top-10 offense in 2014 and '15 -- they need to act like it. Only 12 percent of 0-2 teams make the playoffs; this is a Must Win game -- they need to come out and act like it.

But until the Giants come out and show me a reason to believe that they can capitalize on the opportunities their defense gives them, I can't pick them to win.

Final score: Lions 24, Giants 17

Valentine’s View

(0-1 straight up)

This is such a difficult game to predict. There logical reasons to pick both for and against the Giants.

The Giants woebegone offense has a lot to prove, whether Odell Beckham Jr. plays or not, and the Matthew Stafford-led Lions aren’t lightweights. The Giants are home, they will be the desperate team and they will have the emotional lift of the presence of members of the 2007 Super Bowl-winning team. This night has to mean something to them, right? Especially to Eli Manning, the guy who led that championship team.

In the end, I think it’s always wise to pick the desperate team. So, I’m going to go with the Giants. This won’t be easy. They aren’t going to suddenly morph into an offensive juggernaut, Beckham or no Beckham. They might be without Janoris Jenkins and B.J. Goodson on defense. The Lions have a more versatile offense than they did last season when the Giants held them to 6 points.

Maybe I’m just in a good mood and I would rather be optimistic than pessimistic.

Final score: Giants 17, Lions 16