New York Giants vs Carolina Panthers
Time: December 20th , 1:00 PM EST
Location: Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford NJ
Line: Carolina Panthers (-5.0)
The New York Giants will host the 13-0 Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. The Giants will look to hand Carolina its first loss this year.
Giants in a Tight Race for the NFC East
The New York Giants, 6-7, remain in a tie for first in the NFC East with the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles. All three teams won their matchup last week, including the Giants who won 31-24 in Miami against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. All three teams will have potentially tough matchups this week as the Eagles face the Cardinals, the 'Skins face the Bills and the Giants of course will face the Panthers. The Giants were led by Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. Manning finished 27-31 for 337 yards and 4 touchdowns while Beckham had 7 catches for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns including the game winning 84-yard touchdown just minutes into the final quarter.
Injury Report
LB Devon Kennard - The Giants young linebacker will miss another game due to a foot injury.
DT Markus Kuhn - Kuhn has been ruled out after suffering a sprained knee in the team's win on Monday night.
DE George Selvie - The first-year Giant will miss this game due to a concussion.
OT Ereck Flowers - The rookie tackle has battled through ankle injuries all year and it looks like he will do that again. He is officially listed as questionable even though he is expected to play.
LB J.T Thomas - Thomas is listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
WR Dwayne Harris - The Giants number three receiver and return specialist will likely play but is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.
Matchup to Watch
Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr - Panthers CB Josh Norman:
Getty Images North America
This will be one of the premier matchups in all of football this week. Josh Norman, one of the NFL's shutdown corners, has had a breakout year this year and has shutdown many of teams opposing players. Beckham on the other hand has absolutely torched defenses this year and will look to do the same to Norman. Whoever wins this matchup should give their team a huge advantage on Sunday.
Prediction
Overall this should be one of the great games in the NFL this week. The Panthers, led by Cam Newton, come in undefeated but play a feisty Giants team. The Giants have been known for knocking off heavily favored teams in the past and I think they come up just short this time. The Giants will stay close throughout, but will eventually fall flat when it matters most.
Panthers 31 Giants 27
