The Detroit Lions travel to face the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 10:30am (AEST).
New York are looking to bounce back from a horrendous Week 1 loss at Dallas, 19-3.
The defence had a respectable outing limiting the Cowboys to less than 20 points but the offence looked lost without star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who sat out with an ankle injury.
Beckham is set to return for this game and his presence could provide a much-needed spark for a unit that hasn’t scored over 20 points in a game since November last year.
If the Giants are to end that unenviable streak they’ll need to establish a running game – something they were unable to do against Dallas, and for most of last season.
The Lions, on the other hand, are flying high after a big Week 1 win over the Arizona Cardinals, 35-23. Matthew Stafford threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns in his first game since signing his record contract.
Two of those touchdowns were caught by rookie wide receiver Kenny Golladay, who gives Stafford an exciting new weapon to compliment Golden Tate and Marvin Jones.
However, this will be a sturdier test for Stafford and company as the Giants had one of the league’s stingiest defences last year.
The interesting battle will be how the Giants’ defensive line matches up with Detroit. Arizona failed to create much pressure on Stafford last week and were picked apart as a result. If the Giants have similar trouble then it could be another big night for the Lions.
Don’t expect that to be the case however, as this game is likely to be another low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Giants 19 – Lions 21
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
FINAL SCORE: The DETROIT LIONS 24 - The Giants 10. The Detroit Lions beat the New York Giants, 24 - 10 and improve to 2-0 on the season. The Giants fall to their second loss and sit the bottom of the NFC East at 0-2. It was a lacklustre affair at Metlife stadium as the Giants offence failed to get anything going for an eighth consecutive game. Odell Beckham Jr. had a quiet night in his first game back from injury, even if his presence did open up some more options for Eli Manning. The Giants were unable to get anything going as their offensive line failed them in both the running game and in pass protection. The Giants had just 55 yards rushing and allowed Eli Manning to be sacked five times. The Giants now sit 0-2 at the bottom of their division but more worrying than their record is how they’ve played. They’ve scored just 13 points and have been completely outplayed in both games. The Lions by comparison had a more balanced attack. Matthew Stafford threw for two touchdowns and was supported by a steady running game lead by Admeer Abdullah. Ezekiel Ansah was a problem for the giants all evening as the defensive end racked up three sacks and will be living in the nightmares of Giants’ left tackle Ereck Flowers. Things won’t get easier for Flowers and company as they travel to face the Eagles in week 3, a team with a fiercer pass rush than Detroit. The Lions too will face a sturdier test as the reigning NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons come to town.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Admeer Abdullah runs across midfield for 34 yards to the Giants 34. This one looks over.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
The Giants bring the ball across midfield but their drive is stalled by a series of incompletions. They give the ball back to Lions after failing on 4th and 10. The Lions will come out here and try to run the ball to see this one out. 4:28 left to play. Score: Detroit – 24 – New York 10
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
The Giants get a big stop to force the punt. Which is caught at the 7 yard line with 7:48 left to play. Score: Detroit – 24 – New York 10 The Giants are running out of time as their fans are running out of the stadium. There's too many good things to do in New York and it's too much of a mess getting out of that stadium to wait around to watch the rest of this crap. One of the worst offences in recent memory.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
TURNOVER ON DOWNS The Giants go for it one forth and short but the pass to Shane Vereen comes up short of the 1st down marker. At first it's ruled a first down by the chain gang but the Lions challenge and win. Clearly short on the replay. Lions ball at the 50 with 10:08 to play in the game.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Score: Detroit – 24 – New York 10 10:20 to go in the game.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Looking back at that Giants drive you have to be angry at Brandon Marshall. He smoked past DJ Hayden and was in the clear as Eli found him in stride but he dropped the pass. There was safety help so it wasn't going all the way but the big gain would have kept the drive alive with great field position. Instead they punt and get burned on the return.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
TOUCHDOWN LIONS Brad Wing punts to Agnew who receives it at the 12 yard line and brings back to the house for a 88 yard return. The legs on that man. Wow. He just turned on the jets and was away. Score: Detroit - 24 - New York 10
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
The Giants offence comes out after the punt to take over at their own 19 yard line. Well they were explosive on the last drive but faltered at the end so let's see what he can do now. Score: Giants 10 – Lions 17.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Well that became ugly. After a couple of good plays to start the drive the Lions were stalled by a series of penalties that forced them back to 1st and 30. The Lions acted conservatively and ran a draw on 1st, a dunk on 2nd, and then a bomb on 3rd that was defended by the Giants. END OF THE THIRD
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
1st and 10 for Detroit from the 50 yard line. Score: Giants 10 – Lions 17. 2:00 left in the 3rd. Detroit need to gain some momentum on this drive to put some more distance between them and the Giants. The Giants aren't great but it just takes one quick slant to OBJ to tie this one up. It'd be more than the Giants deserve but that doesn't mean it won't happen.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
FIELD GOAL A comedy of errors sees the giants fail to get anything from the their 1st and Goal situation as penalties and errors force them back. In the end a field goal brings the Lions within 7. Score: Giants 10 - Lions 17.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
BIG GAINS Eli finds Adams and then Marshall on successive plays to bring them down to the 1 yard line. Seems my scorn was premature as Eli opens up for some big gains. They're at the goal line. 07:16 left.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
FIRST DOWN GIANTS Usually doesn't deserve a bold font but tonight it does. Manning finds Beckham for a 16 yard gain. His 3rd reception of the night. Giants at the 44 yard line. 8:43 left in the game.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Another 3 and Out - This time by the Lions sees another punt. If you're a fan of defence and punting then you're getting a good dose of it tonight. Giants get the ball back at the 25 yard line but will no doubt be out again to punt it away soon. 10:56 left in the 3rd SCORE: GIANTS 7 – LIONS 17
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Eli gets sacked again (that's 5) on second down. The Lions then stop the Giants short on third and it's ANOTHER punt by the Giants. They are just awful. Eli needs help and he's just not getting it. Ansah with another sack. Lions take over at the Detroit 26 yard line.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
And we're back. The Giants touchback the kick off and Eli and company come out to start their drive from the 25 yard line. SCORE: GIANTS 7 – LIONS 17
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
HALFTIME That wasn't the prettiest half of football you'll ever see. Detroit fell asleep to allow the Giants to score but beyond that one drive and touchdown the Giants have inept on offence. They can't keep the pressure away from Eli which is creating all sorts of problems. The Lions are playing the better football. They have 173 yards compared to the Giants 80 and they've looked far more balanced than the Giants. It hasn't been a classic by any stretch but it's had its moments.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
FIELD GOAL Prater hits a 56 yard bomb that hits the cross bar and spins dramatically through the uprights. SCORE: GIANTS 7 – LIONS 17
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Abdullah breaks off a nice 24 yard run after Stafford calls an audible. Abdullah has the look of a throwback to Barry Sanders when he gets moving - the problem is there hasn't been enough production out of him since he arrived a few seasons ago. Though for that run if you were squinting you could have been fooled. SCORE: GIANTS 7 – LIONS 14 2:00 left in the half.