The New York Giants (2-5) play host to the New York Jets (3-3) this Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET.
Here are five storylines we are following ahead of the Week 8 clash.
Daniel Jones out again for Giants
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will miss his third consecutive game due to a neck injury. Backup Tyrod Taylor will draw the start once again this week.
Jones’ condition has not allowed him to participate fully in practices. For the past two weeks, Jones has served as the scout team quarterback.
He is clearly week-to-week at this point, but his return is contingent on the medical team, whose diagnosis was not shared with the media by head coach Brian Daboll.
It is becoming clear Jones may not be the team’s future at quarterback. The Giants have to be frustrated with him, especially since the team has shown some progress in his absence.
A rivalry that's not really a rivalry anymore
To most players and fans, a Giants-Jets game no longer holds the rivalry status it once did. Whatever ill will there was between these two teams and their respective fan bases has dissipated over time.
The two teams will be meeting for only the 15th time in the regular season since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. The Giants lead the series, 8-6.
Although the two teams share the same home stadium and geographic territory, they have little in common and the meeting is being treated by both sides as ‘just another game’ on the schedule.
Bragging rights don’t mean much to two organizations that are among the NFL’s top five losing franchises over the past decade.
The game does has some meaning, though
The Giants may be 2-5 but they are still very much alive in the NFC playoff picture. Of course, they have a lot of winning to get themselves into the mix, but when you consider that Minnesota holds the seventh and final spot in the conference right now with a 3-4 record, anything is possible.
The Jets could get themselves into the top 7 in the AFC with a win this week. They would improve to 4-3 and find themselves in an interesting spot with 10 games remaining.
The trade deadline looms
The outcome of this game could be the determinant of whether the Giants are buyers or sellers come next Tuesday’s trading deadline.
A loss drops them to 2-6 and basically out of contention. A win would improve their record to 3-5 and right on the doorstep of the wild card mix.
Some moves could happen no matter what. According to Over The Cap, the Giants have just $1.3 million in available cap space to operate with at the moment. They might have to move an expensive veteran — or two — just to free up some operating cash they may need for the remainder of the season.
Who that will be is unknown. Brian Daboll said the Giants had no interest in trading star running back Saquon Barkley, so that’s one candidate off the board.
The offensive line is still unsettled
The Giants were hoping to get All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) back for this game but he is listed as doubtful. Thomas has not played since Week 1 and the team has missed him greatly.
Center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) has missed three straight games and could miss a fourth. He is listed as questionable and was limited in practice this week.
The good news is the Giants might start the same five on the offensive line as last week (from left to right): Justin Pugh, Marcus McKethan, Ben Bredeson, Mark Glowinski and Tyre Phillips.
It would be the first time this season that the Giants had the same five start two consecutive games.
Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
