Skip to main content
New York Giants homepage
Advertising

Giants News | New York Giants – Giants.com

Players to Watch

Presented by

Players to Watch in Week 16 matchup

PLAYERS-TO-WATCH-WEEK-16

The Giants will fly to Atlanta for their penultimate road matchup of the 2024 season this Sunday when they take on the Falcons.

After falling to the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday, the Giants will look to snap their nine-game losing streak in Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Falcons have a quick turnaround following their Monday night victory over the Raiders in Las Vegas.

Heading into Week 16, the Falcons sit just one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the division lead in the NFC South.

Here are five players to watch in Sunday's matchup.

WR Malik Nabers

Going up against the Ravens in Week 15, the rookie wide receiver returned to his early-season form with 10 receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. It marked Nabers' first double-digit catch game since Week 4 and his first touchdown since Week 3.

Nabers' 90 receptions on the season represent the second-highest total by an NFL player in his first 12 career games, and is only one behind Odell Beckham Jr.'s record of 91 receptions set in 2014. With three games remaining, the 21-year-old is tied with Raiders tight end Brock Bowers for the rookie lead in receptions (and in two fewer games). Meanwhile, Nabers' 901 receiving yards rank third among rookies. He needs just two more catches this season to set a new Giants rookie reception record.

View photos of the Giants on the practice field at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

T Evan Neal

It has been five games since Evan Neal returned to the starting lineup, and his most recent performance against the Ravens was one of his best during this stretch. Neal lined up at right tackle for all of the team's 68 offensive snaps, 50 of which were pass blocking snaps. Of those, the third-year tackle was credited with surrendering just one total pressure against a talented Baltimore pass rush, although he was also flagged for a penalty.

Neal has now given up two sacks and 15 total pressures on 244 pass blocking snaps over the last five games. The young tackle will be one of the most intriguing players to watch over the final three games of the season as the Giants continue to evaluate the roster for 2025 and beyond.

OLB Brian Burns

Brian Burns has continued to be a bright spot on the Giants' defense this season. The veteran outside linebacker registered his eighth sack of the season against the Ravens this past Sunday. He also picked up five total pressures, according to PFF, which was his second straight game and seventh overall with at least five pressures. What makes this even more impressive is that he did this on only 19 pass rush snaps.

Through the first 14 games of the season, Burns has already matched or topped most of his stats from last year, and in two fewer games. His 52 total pressures are 12 more than he finished with in his final season with the Panthers, while his eight sacks tie last year's total. He'll have an opportunity to add to his season total on Sunday against a Falcons offensive line that has allowed Kirk Cousins to get sacked three or more times in three of their last five games.

ILB Micah McFadden

With Bobby Okereke sidelined for the last two games, Micah McFadden has stepped up in a big way in the middle of the Giants' defense. One week after he racked up 11 total tackles, including a career-high five tackles for loss, the third-year linebacker finished yet again with 11 total tackles while adding his third sack of the season. McFadden played a big role in slowing down Alvin Kamara and the Saints' run game in Week 14, and while the Ravens had more success on the ground this past weekend, McFadden did help contain Derrick Henry to 67 total yards.

McFadden has gotten better each season he's been in the NFL. He recorded 101 total tackles (63 solo), 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and one sack across 16 games last season. Through his first 13 games of the 2024 campaign (he missed the season opener), McFadden has already set a new career-best with 102 total tackles (57 solo) to go with eight tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and a career-high three sacks. He will have his hands full again this week with yet another elite running back on deck. Bijan Robinson had a season-high 125 yards on 22 carries in the Falcons' Monday night victory over the Raiders. Robinson has 1,102 yards on the ground through 14 games, already beating his rushing total from last year.

S Dane Belton

With Tyler Nubin placed on injured reserve, Dane Belton saw his second extended action of the season against the Ravens. Belton played 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps, which marked only the second time this year he's played every snap. Not only did he play a lot, but Belton was all over the field against Baltimore. The third-year safety registered a team-high 15 total tackles, nine more than he's had in any other game in his young NFL career. Belton added his first sack of the season along with a pass breakup to his final stats.

Belton will have a big opportunity to showcase what he can do over the final three games of the year. Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has not done a ton this season, but at 6-foot-6 and 246-pounds, he offers a physical mismatch against just about every safety across the NFL. Pitts caught four passes for 28 yards on Monday night, and has 40 receptions for 536 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

View photos from the all-time series between the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons.

100th BOOK_OnSale_1920x1080_CTA_Promo

Giants 100th season book on sale now

"New York Football Giants: The People, The Moments, The Traditions" is available now exclusively at the Giants online shop. The book explores the team's greatest players, unforgettable games and stories that have defined the franchise for the last century.

Related Content

Advertising