# Giants vs Lions prediction: 2 of 3 pundits pick the Lions

Week 16, 2026: New York Giants at Detroit Lions

Dec 29, 2026 · not played yet · 3 calls on record · updated Nov 4, 11:18 AM ET

Who do pundits pick in Giants vs Lions? Of 3 pundits with a call on record, 2 take the Lions and 1 takes the Giants. Every call is graded once the game is final.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [Sports Illustrated](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated): Lions 1, Giants 1

The other 1 pundit writes or talks elsewhere: all 1 Lions.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-16-giants-at-lions

Picks:

- [Stephen Lebitsch](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/stephen-lebitsch) took the Giants; said Nov 4, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; not settled yet — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a47df1b-c2d4-4d55-be4d-b8f60a980c1f
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Lions; said Sep 7, 2026; on CBS Sports; not settled yet — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5520649c-0f51-4c45-8c3a-59d7e9f72497
- [Conor Orr](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/conor-orr) took the Lions; said Aug 7, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; not settled yet — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/59f3656d-ab7d-43aa-92fe-d66a47b658fb

## How they come in

The Giants are 5-2-1 and have won 2 straight; the Lions are 6-2 and have won 4 straight. On win totals, 14 pundits put the Giants at 7 wins on average, and 12 pundits put the Lions at 10.3 wins on average.

Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

- New York Giants: 5-2-1, won 2 straight (182 scored, 172 allowed)
  - Last games: W 19-11 at Eagles; W 27-21 at Texans; L 27-34 vs Saints
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 21st, defense 15th of 32
  - Last season: 4-13
  - Win-total calls: 14 pundits, average 7, 2 to 11 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 3 of 7 Giants games
- Detroit Lions: 6-2, won 4 straight (222 scored, 189 allowed)
  - Last games: W 19-9 at Dolphins; W 19-15 vs Vikings; W 20-17 vs Packers
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 5th, defense 11th of 32
  - Last season: 9-8
  - Win-total calls: 12 pundits, average 10.3, 3 to 12 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 7 of 8 Lions games

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [J.J. McCarthy](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/j-j-mccarthy) (Starting QB, QB): 622 passing yards · 1 TD, 1 INT · 63.2% completions · 4 games; 35th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 2 Bryan DeArdo, Aug 27, 2026: J.J. McCarthy to move to Minnesota Vikings (scored 100 out of 100)
  - No. 6 Pat Fitzmaurice, Oct 21, 2026: J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Cam Skattebo](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cam-skattebo) (RB1, RB): 418 rushing yards on 98 carries · 2 TD · 11 catches for 76 · 6 games; 20th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Aug 12, 2026: Cam Skattebo to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 19 Rich Hribar, Sep 9, 2026: Cam Skattebo to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Malik Nabers](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malik-nabers) (WR1, WR): 53 catches for 648 yards · 2 TD · 8 games; 11th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Sep 13, 2026: Malik Nabers to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 13 Carter Bahns, Sep 10, 2026: Malik Nabers to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Isaiah Likely](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/isaiah-likely) (TE1, TE): 46 catches for 448 yards · 6 TD · 8 games; 29th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Sep 1, 2026: Isaiah Likely to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 13 Carter Bahns, Sep 14, 2026: Isaiah Likely to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Arvell Reese](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/arvell-reese) (Sack leader, Tackle leader, LB): 4.5 sacks · 48 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 21st in the NFL in sacks; 2nd in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 13 Carter Bahns, Sep 3, 2026: Arvell Reese to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 21 Bucky Brooks, Aug 30, 2026: Arvell Reese to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (not settled yet)
- [Jared Goff](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jared-goff) (Starting QB, QB): 2,134 passing yards · 15 TD, 2 INT · 67.8% completions · 8 games; 9th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 2 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Jared Goff to stay with Detroit Lions (not settled yet)
  - No. 6 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 6, 2026: Jared Goff to outplay his draft cost (An 11th round pick in real time ADP) (not settled yet)
- [Jahmyr Gibbs](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jahmyr-gibbs) (RB1, RB): 847 rushing yards on 177 carries · 11 TD · 34 catches for 285 · 8 games; 3rd in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Jahmyr Gibbs to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
  - No. 13 Carter Bahns, Oct 5, 2026: Jahmyr Gibbs to finish top 1 at his position, by an unstated measure (not settled yet)
- [Amon-Ra St. Brown](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/amon-ra-st-brown) (WR1, WR): 61 catches for 657 yards · 5 TD · 8 games; 10th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 21 Bucky Brooks, Aug 17, 2026: Amon-Ra St. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 37 Andrew Erickson, Sep 16, 2026: Amon-Ra St. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Sam LaPorta](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sam-laporta) (TE1, TE): 35 catches for 399 yards · 3 TD · 8 games; 35th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 2 Bryan DeArdo, Oct 21, 2026: Sam LaPorta to sign a new deal (not settled yet)
  - No. 13 Carter Bahns, Sep 12, 2026: Sam LaPorta to move to Detroit Lions (not settled yet)
- [Alim McNeill](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/alim-mcneill) (Sack leader, DT): 5.5 sacks · 8 solo tackles · 8 games; 12th in the NFL in sacks
- [Jack Campbell](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jack-campbell) (Tackle leader, LB): 30 solo tackles · 7 games; 46th in the NFL in solo tackles

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-16
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology