It\u2019s the match up we\u2019ve all had circled since the schedule was released, right? In all seriousness, if there\u2019s one team in the NFL the New England Patriots could claim as an arch rival, it\u2019s the New York Giants. And while Eli Manning won\u2019t be starting tonight\u2019s game, there\u2019ll be plenty of highlights shown of some terrific Manning moments against the Pats that will define his career. Tom Brady, he\u2019s all set as far as canton goes, but before he hands up his spurs for good, you know he\u2019d like to put a beating on the team that cost him two rings and one perfect season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The all-time series is tied between the Pats and the Giants at 6-6, but here\u2019s the interesting thing to think about. In their last four meetings, the Giants won three of them and, as you\u2019ll be made well aware throughout tonight\u2019s broadcast, two of those G-men victories were in the Super Bowl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re going to get plenty of sideline shots of Eli so if you\u2019ve got an over-under prop on that, look at the over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not just the Super Bowls that link the two teams. Bill Belichick was the Giants\u2019 defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells for two Super Bowl championships in SBs XXI and XXV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is Daniel Jones\u2019 third start in the NFL and he\u2019s been pretty good, especially as a rookie. Any criticism the Giants got for drafting him at No. 6 in April is long gone after a solid preseason and beginning of his NFL career. The benching of Manning was almost an afterthought when it happened. That\u2019s a bummer, but it\u2019s good that the Giants could have their future quarterback situation figured out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it\u2019s not the future, it\u2019s the present and there\u2019s just not a realistic scenario where the Giants can seriously compete in this game. They\u2019re overmatched at pretty much every position on the field, especially with running back Saquon Barkley sidelined. They say there\u2019s no moral victories, but keeping the Pats from covering 17 points sure would feel like one to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a couple of fun facts; since 1980 the Giants have never been this big an underdog, and that news broke when the spread was +16.5, It\u2019s half a point higher now. They\u2019re also the biggest underdog in TNF history, the previous record holders being the 2016 Jeff Fisher Rams at +15 against the Seahawks and the Giants themselves at +15 against the Troy Aikman, Emmett Smith and Michael Irvin Dallas Cowboys in 1992. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Patriots\u2019 path to their 10th Super Bowl in the Brady-Belichick era is paved with games like these. Their schedule would be criticized in college football, claiming too many cupcake opponents. But New England isn\u2019t doing it on purpose. The AFC East has been trash for nearly two decades and they got the NFC East when two teams, the Giants and Redskins, barely have seven legitimate NFL players between them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The offense is humming and the defense, statistically so far, is the best it\u2019s ever been. Of course, that could have a lot more to do with playing the Dolphins, Jets and Redskins than it does actual performance. Either way, the test won\u2019t come tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back to the history here; in the five Thursday games since 1980 with spreads of 15 or more points, the underdog covered three out of five times. It has a lot to do with the short week and that most of these were played on Get the latest NFL football odds and information–follow BetOnline.ag on Twitter<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanksgiving before TNF became a thing in 2006. I see this one evening up that record and wouldn\u2019t be shocked if New England shut out the Giants altogether. PATRIOTS 27, GIANTS 6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n