The New York Giants and New York Jets will take part in a battle for local bragging rights in Week 10. Neither team is in contention for the playoffs; both are desperate to get back into the win column.
The Giants are amid a five-game losing streak after falling to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 on Monday Night Football. With their fifth-consecutive loss, the Giants have fallen to 2-7 and are just one game out of last place in the NFC East.
Due to the team's recent struggles, Pat Shurmur sent a strong message to the team in practice this week. It remains to be seen if the players within the Giants' locker room took the message to heart.
On the other hand, the Jets are also experiencing their own set of issues within the organization. Adam Gase has been unable to aid in Sam Darnold's development process in his first year as the head coach.
With the Jets handing the Miami Dolphins their first win of the season in Week 9, many have begun to wonder if this is Gase's only year in New York. The Jets are 1-7 and are in last place in the AFC East.
Considering that, here are four reasons why the Giants will defeat the Jets in Week 10.
4. Daniel Jones should get back on track
In Daniel Jones' first two starts, he was able to complete 68.7 percent of his passes for 561 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Above all, the Giants won both games and everyone began to crown him as one of the NFL's best young quarterbacks.
Since then, the rookie signal-caller has completed only 60 percent of his attempts for 1,098 yards, eight touchdowns, and 13 total turnovers in his last five starts. Due to his recent struggles, the Giants have failed to win a single game in that span.
While he's made plenty of rookie mistakes, he should be able to get back on track against the Jets. The Jets have the 24th ranked pass defense in the NFL and only have 10 turnovers forced (22nd in the NFL).
3. Saquon Barkley is poised to break out
Last week, Saquon Barkley was unable to get into a rhythm versus the Cowboys. The superstar running back was only able to garner 28 yards on 14 attempts and minus a 65-yard reception in the fourth quarter, he had only five receptions for a mere two yards.
Even with his underwhelming numbers, Barkley is still arguably the most gifted running back in the NFL. This week, Barkley is poised to have his best game of the season against a downtrodden Jets defense.
Yes, the Jets boast the sixth-best run defense in the NFL (allowing only 89.3 yards per game). Despite that being the case, the Jets will be without C.J. Mosley and they don't have the personnel to contain Barkley.
2. Darnold will be under duress
Through the first nine weeks, the Jets have failed to protect their second-year quarterback. Darnold has been sacked 18 times in five starts. Altogether, the Jets' offensive line has surrendered 37 sacks on their quarterbacks (second-most in the NFL).
The Giants don't have a dominant front-seven by any means, but they do have enough talent that can take advantage of a weak Jets offensive line. There's no doubt that Leonard Williams will want to prove to his former team that they made a mistake trading him.
Along with Williams, Markus Golden and Dexter Lawrence could also wreak havoc on Sunday against the Jets.
1. The Jets are an even bigger mess
It seems like an eternity since the Jets were able to upset the Cowboys in Week 6. Over the past few weeks, the Jets have had two players file injury grievances against them, have ignited trade rumors involving Le'Veon Bell and Jamal Adams, and Darnold ‘saw ghosts' when facing the New England Patriots.
Those events are among the many that have taken place during the short tenure of Gase as their head coach. The Giants have had their fair share of problems this season as well.
But their troubles aren't even close to as concerning as the ones that are taking place within the Jets' organization. The Jets' complications seem to be like a stain that won't come out of your t-shirt no matter what you try to do. Thus, giving Pat Shurmur a chance to end the Giants' grueling losing streak.
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