The Detroit Lions are still nursing their wounds from falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in a high-stakes game on Sunday, November 16, but that’s in the past, and they’re looking to the future. If anything, the 16-9 loss put some first under the feet of head coach Dan Campbell and company to pull out all the stops as the season winds down. If the Lions want to get to the big game, they’re going to have to basically win out the rest of their season.
So, the Lions face the New York Giants on Sunday, November 23, at home, and it’s a fortunate matchup for them, because the Giants are 2-9 and without any of their star players. It doesn’t stop there. The Giants made an announcement on Friday, November 21, that should make the Lions breathe a sigh of relief.
New York Giants Announcement is Good News for the Detroit Lions
On Friday, the Giants announced that they’re ruling out rookie, and starting, quarterback Jaxson Dart for the game. Interim head coach Mike Kafka broke the news during a chat with the press.
Dart, 22, suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of the Giants game against the Chicago Bears two weeks ago, which they lost, 24-20. The Giants were ahead in the game when Dart left the field, but they ended up losing it after the rookie was sidelined for the rest of the contest.
Before getting injured, Dart had completed 19 of 29 passes for 242 yards while running for 66 yards and two touchdowns, according to NFL research.
With Dart out, the Lions will face Jameis Winston or Russell Wilson. Either way, there’s no denying that Dart was electric on the field, and him being out means the Lions are catching a break.
Detroit Falls in the NFC North
The Detroit Lions’ loss to the Eagles cost them. On Monday, November 17, the Chicago Bears, spearheaded by Johnson, woke up to being the No. 1 team in the NFC North. Their definitive win, with a 19-17 score over the Minnesota Vikings, puts them with a 7-3 record for the season, while the Lions are 6-4. The Lions are actually No. 3, with the Green Bay Packers ahead of them with a 6-3-1 record.
So, Johnson and the Bears have certainly sent the Lions a message. They’re on top, and the Lions better get themselves ready for their rematch on January 4, 2026. Both team’s NFL bye weeks are long gone, they won’t have time to rest before the rematch, either.
As Pouncy from The Athletic notes, “The Lions are 6-4, third in the NFC North and on the outside looking in for the playoff race. This is not where they were expected to be after 11 weeks. They just lost a measuring-stick game against a contender in their conference, and any lingering hope of securing a first-round bye is just about lost after this outing.”
Campbell took over the play calling duties from offensive coordinator John Morton for the past two Lions games, and he’s expected to do it for the rest of the season. But, even if they beat the Giants, considering how deflated the team is with injuries, it shouldn’t be a flex. The team needs to focus on getting prepped for the games where the opponent is healthy, and they will. Let them roar.
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