The New York Giants (2-12) visit the Atlanta Falcons (7-7) in Week 16. New York is awaiting the end of its dreadful season. Atlanta has made a late-season quarterback switch from veteran Kirk Cousins to rookie Michael Penix Jr. It is Penix’s first NFL start. Our Giants vs Falcons prediction is for heavy underdog New York to keep the game within the 9-point spread.
Head-to-head, the Falcons have a 14-12 advantage.
Offshore Odds: Atlanta a 9-Point Favorite at Home
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | +9 (-116) | +345 | O 42 (-110) |
| Falcons | -9 (-104) | -425 | U 42 (-110) |
This Week’s Giants Starting QB is…
The Giants are a few days away from posting an ad for a quarterback on Craigslist NY/NJ.
Folk hero Tommy DeVito might be that guy who was overhyped for all the wrong reasons, but had some ability and was saddled with bad luck. In the first half of Week 15, New York was hanging close with Baltimore. DeVito was 10 for 13 for 68 yards before suffering a concussion and leaving the game. Then the blowout ensued.
DeVito is in the concussion protocol. Veteran Drew Lock, who was in a walking boot before the Baltimore game, will start.
Bluntly, there’s not much to say about the Giants other than the lingering question of whether they’re tanking to get a higher draft pick or are trying to win. It’s still up in the air if GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll make the pick or if owner John Mara cleans house again.
Black Monday tells all.
Two rookie offensive standouts — wide receiver Malik Nabors (knee) and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) — were limited in practice but are expected to play.
New York is seventh in the league in allowing the fewest yards per game and in sacks. This could cause problems for Penix as he gets acclimated to the pro game in a high-pressure situation.
Atlanta Pins Its Playoff Hopes on Penix
Cousins has been objectively terrible for weeks. After Monday night when Cousins completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception, head coach Raheem Morris had seen enough. He announced Penix would start against New York.
The timing makes sense. There’s room for inevitable rookie missteps against a terrible team.
Atlanta still has a reasonable shot at making the playoffs. If they win their final three and tie Tampa Bay in the NFC South, they win the division based on having beaten the Buccaneers twice.
Penix will have his rookie moments, but it would be difficult for him to be worse than Cousins has been. The Falcons have an excellent running game. Penix adds the lingering threat of the deep ball, which the lefty was adept at in college.
Giants vs Falcons Prediction: A 9-Point Spread is High
Nine points is a large spread, particularly with a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start. The Falcons will win, but the Giants will stay within nine points.
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