By Sunday 
Oddsmakers show no mercy as Lions open at -10.5
If you’ve watched the New York Giants this season, you already know the pattern. They start strong, spark some hope, make you sit a little closer to the screen — and then the fourth quarter arrives like a storm cloud. Leads vanish. Mistakes pile up. And another “almost” gets added to the record.
That 2-9 record? It tells the same story the film does: competitive early, collapsed late. And after last week’s 27-20 loss to the Packers — another chapter in that same book — the oddsmakers have finally stopped giving the Giants benefit of the doubt.
Now they’re staring down their biggest challenge yet.
A “Whopping 10.5-Point” Underdog Label
The Giants open Week 12 as 10.5-point underdogs against the Detroit Lions — their “biggest underdog hole of the season.” FanDuel didn’t hesitate with that line, and honestly, recent play doesn’t give the Giants much room to argue.
It’s not just that they’re facing a strong team; they’re facing a team that’s firing on nearly all cylinders.
Detroit’s Offense Is a Problem — A Big One
You want to talk firepower? Detroit’s got it:
- 4th in total points
- 5th in total yards
- Aerial attack ranked among the league’s best
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta all over 490 yards
- 16 of Detroit’s 22 passing touchdowns belong to that trio
- 32 big-time plays and 1,443 YAC
This isn’t just good. This is “hope your defense had its coffee” good.
And for a Giants defense that has struggled all season to cover the middle of the field, stop big runs, or close out games? It’s a brutal matchup.
Add in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, both capable of dragging defenders for extra yards, and Detroit’s offense looks like a full buffet of problems.
Can the Giants Fight Back?
There is a glimmer of hope. It’s small, but it’s there.
If quarterback Jaxson Dart clears concussion protocol, the Giants offense instantly becomes more competent. The team looks different with him — more confident, more efficient, more capable of putting up a fight.
And Detroit’s defense, while gritty and high-energy, does have a weakness:
They’re bottom five in run-stop and pass-rush win rate. Surprising, given that Aidan Hutchinson already has 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles this season.
If the Giants can protect their quarterback and avoid turnovers, they can at least keep the game interesting — maybe even punch their way into the red zone, where the Lions are unusually generous (25th in opponent scoring).
But Let’s Be Real…
Detroit has topped 30 points in five of 10 games and has covered the 10.5 spread just as often. They don’t play with their food. Weak defenses get cooked.
The Giants? Well, they’ve been exactly that — especially in second halves.
Unless something changes fast, Sunday could be rough.
Final Thoughts
This matchup is the perfect storm:
- A Giants team that can’t finish games
- A Lions team that punishes teams exactly like that
- A double-digit spread that reflects reality more than disrespect
If the Giants want to avoid another late-game meltdown, they’ll need the cleanest game they’ve played all year.
But if this season has taught us anything… brace yourself.