An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Falcons Week 16 matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta:
Marquee matchup
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Giants ILB Micah McFadden
Of course, this is not a mano-a-mano confrontation, but these two combatants will meet up several times on the field.
Robinson is an excellent player. He is fifth in the league in rushing with 1,102 yards, trailing Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Kyren Williams. Robinson also has 54 receptions.
Was he worth the No. 8-overall draft pick in 2023? That’s certainly debatable.
McFadden is one of the best values on the Giants roster.
The fifth-round pick in 2022 is the team leader with 102 tackles and is making the defensive calls with Bobby Okereke injured and out of action.
Alas, the Giants are 31st in stopping the run, allowing 143.7 yards per game.
Paul’s pick
Normally, a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start would be fresh meat to a defense.
Has anything about this Giants’ season been remotely normal?
Would anyone be surprised if Michael Penix Jr. lights it up?
There were ridiculous coverage busts last week with so many new guys in the secondary.
The Falcons’ defense is not good — they’ve given up 14 more points this season than the Giants — but have you seen the Giants offense?
Falcons 27, Giants 16
4 Downs
First timer: Whenever a rookie quarterback makes his NFL starting debut, there is a chance he is not quite ready for the speed and intensity of the game.
Micah McFadden spent four years in college at Indiana with new Falcons starting QB Michael Penix Jr., and McFadden recalls as freshmen, Penix was already ahead of the curve.
“I remember somebody told me, ‘Man, that Penix guy, they installed the offense and he knew the playbook by Day 2,’’ McFadden said. “Smart quarterback, knows the system. I’m sure he has a pretty good understanding of the play book. And sometimes with rookies, they simplify a little bit and they keep it cookie-cutter. From the guy I know, he’s never really needed it that way.’’
Selection process: Some draft picks are easy and fairly obvious to make.
The Giants taking Evan Neal at No. 7 overall in 2022 is an example of this.
There was a need for a right tackle, and Neal was highly regarded coming out of Alabama. He came off the board as expected.
It has not worked out for Neal or the Giants, but the strategy of making the pick was sound.
Now take a look at Kyle Pitts and the Falcons.
He was taken at No. 4 overall in 2021 — the earliest a tight end has ever been drafted — and was projected as a difference-maker and matchup nightmare.
He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
The past three seasons — meh. In 14 games this year, he has 40 receptions for 536 yards and three touchdowns.
Give and take: It comes as no surprise that the Giants during their nine-game losing streak are minus-six in turnovers.
What is wild is that it actually represents an improved ratio from the season as a whole.
The Giants are 28th in the league in turnover margin at minus-eight, based largely on their NFL-low two interceptions.
They have 11 takeaways (two interceptions, nine fumble recoveries) and 19 giveaways (10 interceptions, nine lost fumbles).
When you think of “making something happen’’ on defense, you do not think of the Giants.
Next at-bat: The starting quarterback steps in front of a team banner on Wednesdays to meet with the media.
This week, it was Drew Lock’s turn, making his third start this season. Tommy DeVito, out of concussion protocol, is the backup.
“It’s definitely different,” Lock said. “But, at the same time, Tommy was upset when he got his bell rung, he didn’t get to play. I went in there, the heel thing happened and then he goes back in. We’ve just had some unfortunate things happen and we just keep rolling with the punches.”
