Monday Night Football: Giants at Steelers in the Week 8 with Jones vs. Wilson QB Matchup

The New York Giants’ Daniel Jones is arguably the worst prime-time quarterback in NFL history with a 1-14 record, and the Giants are in Pittsburgh on MNF at Pittsburgh to close Week 8 with the Steelers as touchdown favorites on the NFL odds.

New York Giants at Pittsburgh MNF: 2024 NFL Expert Analysis in Week 8

New York Giants MNF Line +222

The Giants’ offensive woes continued in Week 7 with a 28-3 home loss to Philadelphia. Daniel Jones completed 14 of 21 passes for 99 yards and gained 20 rushing yards on five carries. With the game out of reach, Jones got benched in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Drew Lock, but Coach Brian Daboll said after the game that he was just looking to “create a spark” with his team down 25 points while making it clear that Jones is still viewed as the team’s starting quarterback. Lock was 3-of-8 for 6 yards, as not much changed for the sputtering Giants offense with him at the helm.

Daniel Jones career with the Giants summed up in one play 💀😂 pic.twitter.com/F7bo1C3XGQ

— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) October 25, 2024

The Statistics

New York has scored just one touchdown in four home games this season, and the team’s 31 points in those contests are the sixth fewest over the past 40 years. Jones, who has six touchdown passes and four interceptions this season, is not harping on his long-term status as the team’s starter. The Giants (2-5) are in no-man’s land with their season and quarterback situation. While Jones reclaimed the starting job, it didn’t appear he was given any assurances about remaining the starter.

“I’m just going to continue to prepare and try to play as well as I can,” Jones said. “Daboll, it’s his team. It’s up to him to make that decision. Obviously, I believe in myself and believe in this offense. So, I’m just going to focus on myself.”

At Seattle

In Week 5, the Giants traveled across the country to Seattle and defeated the Seahawks, 29-20, in the team’s most complete performance of the season. However, the Giants were unable to carry that momentum over to their next two games. In Weeks 6 and 7, the offense scored a total of 10 points. Since their Week 5 at Seattle, the Giants’ longest pass play is 15 yards. Their longest run, meanwhile, is 13 yards.

Coach Brian Daboll

“You never accept where we’re at,” Daboll said. “Whether you’re on top or obviously where we’re at right now, which is not good enough. I’ve clearly stated that. We’ll do everything we can do to improve the things we need to improve on to correct some of those issues that we’re having and ultimately score points.”

Malik Nabers

Rookie WR Nabers needs one catch in Week 8 to become the third player in the Super Bowl era with 40+ receptions in his first six career games. He would join Puka Nacua (50 receptions, 2023) and Saquon Barkley (40 receptions, 2018).

Dexter Lawrence

The defense has played well this year, led by tackle Dexter Lawrence. Heading into Week 8, Lawrence has already set a new career-high with nine sacks, beating his previous high mark of 7.5 set in 2022. Not only has Lawrence set a new personal best, but he also leads the entire NFL. It is the highest sack total by a Giants’ player in the first seven games since Michael Strahan had 12.5 in 2001, the season in which he set the NFL record with 22.5 sacks. Lawrence has faced a double-team rate on 63.3 percent of his pass rushes this season. Not only is this the highest in the NFL, but it is also the highest double-team rate any defender has faced dating back to at least 2018.

New York could be down three cornerbacks as Adoree’ Jackson is out, Cor’Dale Flott is doubtful, and Tre Hawkins is questionable. Punter Jamie Gillan is out as well.

Pittsburgh Steelers MNF Line -285

Russell Wilson made his first start for the Steelers in Week 7 off injury and led a 37-15 home win over the Jets. Wilson completed 16 of 29 pass attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns, while adding three carries for three yards and a third touchdown. That validated coach Mike Tomlin’s decision to start Wilson over the 4-2 Steelers’ interim starter, Justin Fields. Wilson’s passer rating was 109.0, the highest for a Steelers quarterback this season. It also was the most passing yard by a quarterback in his Steelers’ debut since Earl Morrall in 1957.

Russell Wilson

But it wasn’t perfect, with three consecutive three-and-outs after a field goal drive to start the game. And that’s what Wilson is focusing on fixing.

“I think the biggest thing is starting cleaner,” Wilson said. “I think the best thing we did as a team was we responded well, obviously we scored 37. We felt like we left some more touchdowns out there on the field that we could have had potentially, so we’ve got the right mentality.”

Wilson has 1,500 more deep pass yards (20+ air yards) than any other player since 2016. The Giants have allowed league highs in completion percentage (72.7) and passer rating (154.4) on deep passes in 2024.

Najee Harris

Harris rushed 21 times for 102 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Jets. The former first-round pick from Alabama has run the ball 117 times for 478 yards (4.1 avg.) and two touchdowns. Harris has topped 100 yards rushing in each of his last two games, marking just the second time in his career he’s done so in consecutive weeks. The Steelers are 4-0 when they gain at least 125 yards on the ground this year.

Zach Frazier

Center Frazier has been ruled out for the game, as has linebacker Nick Herbig and receiver Roman Wilson. Running back Cordarrelle Patterson, who was limited on Saturday, is doubtful. With Frazier out due to his ankle injury, it will once again be Ryan McCollum who gets the start at center for the second straight week. The line has been the one area on the team hit the hardest by injuries this season, with five different starting lineup combinations through seven games.

Dan Moore Jr.

“It’s crazy when you think about it,” said tackle Moore Jr. “I mean, how many guys we’ve had go down since camp. It’s really crazy. But it’s also even crazier to see young guys like Mason (McCormick), who weren’t necessarily thinking they were going to be starters, and they have stepped in and done a great job. And I think they’re getting better every single week.”

Pittsburgh has won 21 consecutive MNF home games. The Steelers last lost a MNF home game on Oct. 14, 1991 vs. New York Giants (23-20). The team’s.679 winning percentage on Monday Night Football is the highest in the NFL (minimum 50 games). The Steelers’ 53 victories on Monday Night Football are tied for the most in the NFL.

A look at player injuries & practice participation for Week 8. @UPMCSportsMed https://t.co/1E5OIVapj5

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 24, 2024

Bet Giants at Steelers in Week 8

When: Monday, 8:15 PM ET
Where: Arcisure Stadium
TV: ABC, ESPN
Stream Option: ESPN+

Giants vs Steelers Series History

Both franchises have been around for many decades so they have played 78 times despite being in separate conferences with New York leading 44-31-3. However, the Steelers have won the past three. They last met in 2020 in New Jersey and Pittsburgh prevailed 26-16.

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