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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
John Fennelly

Giants vs. Packers: 5 biggest storylines for Week 14

The New York Giants (4-8) host the Green Bay Packers(6-6)  at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Monday Night Football this week.

The game is pivotal in several ways and should be a watchable event.

Here are five storylines to follow before the Week 14 kickoff.

Two hot teams meeting in primetime

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The Giants are coming off their bye week but before that, they had a two-game winning streak going in with victories over the Washington Commanders and New England.Patriots.

The Packers are on a three-game streak after wins against the Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Tommy DeVito is the No. 1 quarterback

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This week, with veteran primary backup Tyrod Taylor eligible to come off IR, head coach Brian Daboll decided that undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito would remain the starter at quarterback.

“Tommy will start,” Daboll told reporters this week. “Tyrod, obviously, we brought him up to see where he is by the end of the week. Hopefully, he’ll be ready to go. If he is, he’ll be the backup and Tommy will be the starter.”

Asked what went into the decision, Daboll answered honestly.

“I think Tommy’s done a good job; he’s improved in each of the games he’s played. I thought he played well the last two games, made good decisions, was accurate with the football and earned the right to play,” he said.

Neal, Watson unlikely to play

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The New York Giants will apparently be without starting right tackle Evan Neal (ankle) for the fourth straight game and the sixth inactive over the team’s last seven games. The Giants are likely to start Tyre Phillips in Neal’s spot.

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has been limited with a hamstring and could be a game-time decision.

The Packers could be without starting linebacker Quay Walker (shoulder) and wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring).

Watson is Green Bay’s primary red zone threat and Walker is their leading tackler.

What's at stake

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The Packers, at 6-6, are currently in seventh in the NFC, which is the final playoff spot in the conference. They obviously see this game as an opportunity to advance their chances with five games remaining in the regular season.

The Giants were once thought to be simply playing out the string to gain the best draft position possible so they could grab a top quarterback. That is on hold for now after two straight wins. They are 12th in the NFC, only two games out of a playoff spot.

Lots to look at here

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The Packers and Giants were two afterthoughts after lousy starts to their seasons, but recent victories behind new faces have piqued the curiosity of the football public.

Jordan Love and a core of young receivers suddenly have the Packers relevant again and the Giants — behind local here DeVito — have rejuvenated the fan base.

This game was a candidate to be ‘flexed’ out of primetime by the NFL due to its irrelevance but now this game has multiple attentive elements to it.

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