Giants.com highlights three keys for the Giants to get a "W" on Monday night:
After a fall in Dallas, the Giants embraced the long week to prepare for the Detroit Lions, who come to MetLife Stadium on Monday night.
Big Blue has won four of its last five games against Detroit, including a 17-6 victory last season in Week 15. Here are three ways they can make it five of the last six:
1. COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL
As coach Ben McAdoo said, their "complementary football was non-existent" last Sunday. Dallas doubled up the Giants in time of possession in the first half and held the ball for nearly 10 more minutes for the entire night. The Giants offense couldn't stay on the field, the defense couldn't get off it at times, and return yards on special teams were down. As a result, the Giants never began a drive beyond their own 25-yard line, which they did four times because of touchbacks. On the other six possessions, they began with their backs squarely against the Dallas end zone at the six, nine, 10 (twice), 11 and 14-yard lines.
"Where we go from here: have to make a big jump from Week 1 to Week 2," McAdoo said. "We're blessed to have a long week this week. Have to play complementary team football and take care of each other in all three phases."
A look at the expected starters for the Lions on Monday night
QB Matthew Stafford Stafford ranks second in NFL history with an average of 278.1 passing yards per game (minimum 100 games).
DE Ezekiel AnsahThe fifth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft averaged 10 sacks over his first three seasons but had just two in 13 games in 2016.
WR Golden TateComing off his second 1,000-yard season, Tate caught 10 passes for 107 yards in Week 1.
LB Jarrad DavisThe rookie first-round pick from Florida led the Lions with nine solo tackles in his first NFL game.
WR Kenny GolladayTwo of Matthew Stafford's four touchdowns in the opener went to Golladay, a rookie third-round pick from Northern Illinois.
DT Haloti NgataA five-time Pro Bowler, Ngata is the most experienced player on the Lions' defense.
SS Miles KillebrewKillebrew sealed Detroit's victory last week with a 35-yard interception return for touchdown.
RB Theo Riddick A dual threat out of the backfield, Riddick had 53 receptions last season and 80 the year before that.
2. MAKEABLE THIRD DOWNS
The Giants had an average of 8.4 yards to go on second down in Week 1. Third down is called the money down, but it's hard to cash in if you're not gaining any headway on first and second. While they need to be makeable third downs, they also need to be timely to keep key drives alive. The Giants have to stay on schedule and ahead of the chains. The opposite is true for the defense. Dallas was 8-for-15 on third down last week.
3. CAPITALIZE WITH TURNOVERS
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a pick-six on his second throw of the season in his game against the Cardinals. He eventually shook it off and went on to throw four touchdowns in a 35-23 victory, but the Giants will try to capitalize in the turnover department. Takeaways tend to come in bunches, like we saw last season, and the Giants were unable to get any last week against Dallas. As bleak as things looked at times at AT&T Stadium, the Giants were just one big play from flipping the field and getting right back in the game.
