Giants vs. Patriots: Week 12 staff picks and predictions
The New York Giants (3-8) will take on the New England Patriots (2-8) this Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium in their 12th game of the 2023 regular season.
Opening the week, the Giants were 3.5-point home underdogs and that’s exactly where the spread remains as of this writing after briefly dropping to +3.
How does the Giants Wire staff see this Week 12 battle shaking out? Here’s a look at our picks and score predictions:
Dan Benton: Patriots 24, Giants 6
The Giants aren’t likely to win again this season even after a big upset last week, and no one is coming to save them. That’s not going to change against the equally unimpressive and underwhelming Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Fans are going to pack their seats, sit in the cold, and commiserate over another humiliation and a failed season.
*Above prediction was also printed in USA TODAY Sports Weekly alongside a full game preview. Print editions are available every Wednesday at newsstands everywhere.
John Fennelly: Giants 20, Patriots 13
Neither team is worth betting on or even worth watching at this point but the Pats seem to be in a bit of disarray after the Mac Jones demotion. Bill Belichick could simply be playing out the string as his tenure in Foxborough wanes. That’s hard to believe in itself. Knowing his record against rookie QBs, this should be a win, but the Pats have been a mess on offense this year.
Tyler Henry: Giants 17, Patriots 16
Something tells me the Giants pull this one out. Points will be hard to come by on Sunday with two teams that struggle to put them on the board.
I think with the way the defense played last week, forcing five turnovers (six by the team in total), the confidence will be high for Wink Martindale’s group.
Injuries are definitely a concern going in but I think the Giants’ momentum from last week will carry them to victory.
Kevin Hickey: Patriots 17, Giants 16
While it was fun to see Tommy DeVito pop off against the Commanders, the success is likely to be short-lived considering Bill Belichick’s track record against rookie quarterbacks. It’s going to be an ugly day for both sides given what each offense has shown, but the Patriots are able to get the win on the back of their ground game and the opportunity for a handful of sacks on defense.
Jeevan Kirkland: Patriots 13, Giants 9
Even with a minor offensive explosion last week, it’s too early to say the Giants are out of the woods in terms of their offensive woes. In a game where both offenses are among the league’s worst in every metric, this one will likely be low-scoring and close.
However, at this point, Bill Belichick is still the better coach and has had the Giants’ number in his time in New England, at least in the regular season (4-1).
The Giants’ defense should be good enough to make this a tough out for Big Blue but Tommy DeVito and the offense are too big of a question mark to be confident in this team going into Week 12.
Serena Burks: Patriots 17, Giants 13
It’s weird, but the Giants and Pats are kind of even this season. Both are having awful seasons and Bill Belichick is on the verge of losing his job. But… he’s still Bill Belichick and he’s capable of out-coaching anyone in the NFL. Tommy DeVito did well against the pressure Washington put on him, but that is going to look different against the Pats. I think the Giants do enough to keep it close, but not quite enough to get the win.
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