4 Bold Predictions For Giants vs. Packers in Week 11, Including a Big Day From Jameis Winston
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.
There have been major changes within the (2-8) New York Giants organization this week. On Monday, they fired head coach Brian Daboll, and on Wednesday, interim head coach Mike Kafka named Jameis Winston as the starter this Sunday against the (5-3-1) Green Bay Packers.
With Jaxson Dart still in concussion protocol, Kafka elected to start Winston over Russell Wilson, who started the first three games of the year. The 31-year-old Winston relishes the opportunity to start for one of the NFL’s marquee franchises.
“I was just grateful. I was grateful that I had this amazing opportunity. I’m so happy and grateful that I get to be the starting quarterback for the New York Giants this week.” Winston said on Wednesday.
Winston brings a ton of experience and excitement to the huddle, and although New York is a huge underdog on Sunday, they could be poised to pull off an upset. Here are four bold predictions for the game.
Jameis Winston will throw for over 300 yards
If there was ever a quarterback who exemplified the phrase “No risk it, no biscuit,” it’s Jameis Winston. He exemplified this mentality in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he threw 33 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions.
The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner loves taking chances, attacking defenses downfield, and giving the team’s pass catchers a chance to make explosive plays. He’ll have a tough task going against Green Bay’s 11th-ranked pass defense that’s allowing 195 yards a game. With rain in the forecast, throwing the ball effectively could be challenging.
Going against one of the league’s best defenses and the possibility of adverse conditions do not bode well for a quarterback making their first start of the year. But the 11th-year veteran quarterback will put on a show for the MetLife Stadium crowd as he will throw for over 300 yards.
Theo Johnson will have his first career 100-yard receiving game
Second-year tight end Theo Johnson is developing into one of the best young tight ends in the league. He has 33 receptions for 314 yards and leads the team in touchdown receptions with five.
Although the Packers’ pass defense has been excellent this season, they do struggle covering opposing tight ends, as they’ve allowed 60 receptions to tight ends. Johnson has yet to have a 100-yard receiving game in his career. But that will change on Sunday as he will be Winston’s go-to-guy, and he will scorch the Packers’ defense and go over the century mark.
Abdul Carter will have two sacks, Micah Parsons will have none
This game will feature two former Penn State edge rushers in Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter. Since being traded from the Dallas Cowboys, Parsons has helped Green Bay become an elite defense. For the season, he has 22 tackles and six and a half sacks.
Abdul Carter hasn’t been nearly as productive as many expected when New York took him with the third overall pick. The 22-year-old edge rusher has just 11 tackles and half a sack on the season. Although he’s had several pressures and forced errant throws, he’s not in the running to win Defensive Rookie of the Year as expected.
But on Sunday, Carter will have the first breakout game of his career as he will sack Jordan Love twice, while his counterpart Parsons will not register a sack as Andrew Thomas and the rest of the offensive line will keep him off Winston.
New York will pull off a huge upset
Sometimes, when there’s a major shake-up within an organization, it can provide a spark and motivate a team. We saw this last week with the Miami Dolphins when they upset the Buffalo Bills 30-13 after they fired their general manager, Chris Grier.
Expect Big Blue to start the game with renewed vigor, with Kafka leading them, and Winston behind center, as they will pull off a huge upset and soundly defeat the Packers.
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