By Moses Joshua 
Why the Lions enter Sunday with every advantage—and how they can capitalize on it
As the New York Giants limp into Week 12 with a five-game losing streak and a winless road record, the Detroit Lions stand positioned to seize a critical home victory. Detroit remains one of the NFC’s toughest environments, and with the Giants arriving battered, undermanned, and searching for answers, the Lions have a clear opportunity to tighten their grip on the playoff race.
The Giants will once again turn to veteran Jameis Winston with young quarterback Jaxson Dart still working through concussion protocol. Winston nearly engineered a late comeback last week, but his final “awry throw” sealed a 27-20 loss and highlighted New York’s ongoing struggles to close games. Now at 2-9, New York enters Ford Field desperate—but desperation alone won’t be enough against a Detroit team capable of outmatching them on both sides of the ball.
To keep the Giants buried and return to winning form, these are the three essential keys Detroit must execute on Sunday.
1. Overwhelm an Inconsistent Giants Pass Rush
New York’s defense enters Week 12 with talent on paper but production that rarely matches its potential. While Brian Burns has delivered with 13 sacks, the remainder of the Giants’ front has sputtered. Kayvon Thibodeaux has just 2.5 sacks, and high-profile names such as Dexter Lawrence II and rookie Abdul Carter have become magnets for public criticism due to their limited impact.
The Giants own only one game all season with more than two sacks. Their 23 total sacks (2.1 per game) simply won’t cut it—especially against the Lions’ explosive offense.
Detroit, meanwhile, has proven they can neutralize pressure with smart design and lightning-quick execution. Jared Goff’s 2.60-second time to throw has been the stabilizing factor for an offensive line that has battled injuries yet remains fundamentally solid. Even with Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell nursing ailments, the Lions’ scheme is built to move fast, punish over-aggression, and keep Goff upright.
If New York wants to “bring the pressure,” they’ll have to do it against a Detroit offense that routinely turns pressures into big plays. Should the Giants gamble, the Lions have the perfect opportunity to make them pay.
2. Let the Run Game Set the Tone Early
Stopping Detroit’s rushing attack has been a puzzle few opponents have solved—and the Giants aren’t built to break that trend.
The Lions enter this matchup with one of the NFL’s most efficient ground games, powered by the thunder-and-lightning pairing of David Montgomery and the electrifying Jahmyr Gibbs. Averaging 130.3 rushing yards per game, Detroit has been able to dictate tempo, control games, and keep defenses on their heels.
Gibbs has emerged as one of football’s most dynamic young playmakers—shifty, explosive, and devastating in space. With 732 rushing yards, eight scores, and elite yards-after-contact production, he’s the type of weapon that punishes missed tackles.
And missed tackles are exactly where the Giants struggle most.
New York has already allowed five straight opponents to eclipse 128 rushing yards and has logged 56 missed tackles on the season—numbers that play directly into Detroit’s strengths. Even with a middling run-block win rate, the Lions create just enough daylight for Gibbs to turn routine carries into momentum-changing bursts.
On Sunday, Detroit doesn’t just have the advantage—they have the blueprint to dominate possession, attack New York’s weakest angles, and drain the life from a defense prone to wearing down late in games.
3. Turn Aidan Hutchinson Loose Against a Stretched Giants Offense
If the Giants’ offense hopes to move the ball, they’ll first have to survive Aidan Hutchinson—and that’s a challenge few teams have solved.
The Lions’ star edge rusher is in the midst of another exceptional season, stacking 62 pressures, 7.5 sacks, 42 hurries, and five forced fumbles. His relentless style fuels Detroit’s defensive identity: fast, physical, and disruptive.
Jameis Winston, known for both big plays and turnover-worthy risks, will have to navigate Hutchinson’s constant presence. Detroit’s goal will be simple: speed up Winston’s clock, collapse pockets, and force him into the kind of hurried decisions that shift momentum instantly.
Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas has been steady and technically sound, but Detroit doesn’t need Hutchinson to win every snap—they just need him to influence the ones that matter. When he does, the Lions defense transforms from good to overwhelming.
If Detroit generates early pressure and forces Winston into catch-up mode, Ford Field could become a long afternoon for the visitors.
Final Outlook: A Prime Opportunity Detroit Must Not Waste
The Giants arrive in Detroit searching for a spark, but the Lions enter with every advantage—healthier playmakers, a top-tier offense, home-field dominance, and a defense built to exploit New York’s weaknesses.
If Detroit executes its winning formula—
neutralize New York’s inconsistent pass rush, control the game with a punishing ground attack, and unleash Aidan Hutchinson’s disruptive energy—they’ll not only handle business at home but reassert themselves as one of the NFC’s most complete teams.
The Giants may be hoping for perfection.
Detroit, however, simply needs to be the Lions.