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10 Things To Watch For

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10 things to watch in Giants vs. Packers

10-THINGS-KAFKA-LAFLEUR

'FOCUS ON WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS'

It's been a whirlwind week at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. The Giants made a significant change on Monday, moving on from Brian Daboll and naming assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as the team's interim head coach. The move came after the Giants lost their fourth consecutive game, which dropped their record on the season to 2-8.

"My only focus is just the players," Kafka told the media Wednesday. "We need to make sure as a group, as a staff, we come together, put together a great plan, and really just focus on what the most important thing is. That's today, our practice, our prep, the meetings that we're in, the communication, and then just working through the details of the game plan because things are going to change and we've got to be able to have some flexibility and adapt to it. So that's probably our biggest messaging in terms of the coaching staff to the players."

Kafka's first decision as interim head coach was to elevate tight end coach Tim Kelly to offensive coordinator, a role he previously served with both the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans. Kelly has a tough challenge ahead in his first game as the team's offensive coordinator with the Packers and their top tier defense coming to MetLife Stadium. But as the new offensive coordinator said to reporters Thursday, in the eyes of the other 31 teams across the NFL, it does not matter what's going on behind the scenes in your building. All that matters is showing up prepared to play on Sunday.

"You got about 10 minutes, right? And then the rest of the league doesn't really care," Kelly said about processing this week's news. "So, it's hard to take the personal element out of it. But you find out quickly like, here we go, Green Bay's coming to town. And they don't really care what we're going through. So have to be able to kind of deal with it in your own way, in your own time. But make sure that you're getting back to neutral so you can go and put together a good plan for the guys so they can go out and win a game in a few days."

ALL-TIME SERIES

The New York Giants (2-8) will host the Green Bay Packers (5-3-1) on Sunday, November 16, in MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm ET on FOX.

This will be the 65th series meeting between the two teams, with the Giants trailing the series, 28-34-2. They lead the series at home, 17-16-2.

They last met in Week 14 of the 2023 season when the Giants defeated the Packers, 24-22, in MetLife Stadium on a Randy Bullock 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 11 matchup against the Packers.

INJURY REPORT

Giants

Out: QB Jaxson Dart (Concussion), DL Chauncey Golston (Neck), G Evan Neal (Hamstring), WR Darius Slayton (Hamstring), OLB Kayvon Thibodeux (Shoulder)

Doubtful: S Tyler Nubin (Neck), DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (Toe)

Questionable: CB Paulson Adebo (Knee), ILB Bobby Okereke (Shoulder)

Packers

Out: CB Nate Hobbs (Knee)

Questionable: WR Matthew Golden (Shoulder), DL Lukas Van Ness (Foot), WR Savion Williams (Foot)

HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN, & STREAM

TV

Channel: FOX

Announcers: Adam Amin (Play-By-Play), Drew Brees (Analyst), Kristina Pink (Sideline)

Postgame: Giants Postgame Live presented by Hackensack Meridian Health

MSG Networks, The Gotham Sports App, YouTube, Giants.com, Giants App, Giants TV

Radio

Channel: WFAN 101.9PM / 66 AM

Announcers: Bob Papa (Play-by-Play), Carl Banks (Analyst), Howard Cross (Sideline)

Pre- and Postgame: John Schmeelk, Tiki Barber

Pregame: Giants Gameday begins at 11:00 AM, presented by Hackensack Meridian Health.

Postgame: Giants Extra Point

JAMEIS TO MAKE NYG DEBUT

A switch at head coach wasn't the only change for the Giants this week. Kafka announced to the media Wednesday that with rookie Jaxson Dart working his way through the concussion protocol, Jameis Winston would start at quarterback for the Giants this week with Russell Wilson backing him up. The two veterans swapped their spots on the depth chart, as Winston has served as the team's emergency third quarterback on gameday each of the first 10 weeks of the season.

The last we saw Winston in game action was during the preseason, where he completed 17 of 30 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while adding 12 yards and an additional touchdown on the ground. Of course, the 31-year-old has plenty of NFL experience under his belt. He started 12 games for the Browns last year and threw for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while his 9.2 air yards per attempt ranked as the third-highest mark among all quarterbacks.

With 24,225 passing yards, 154 touchdowns and 111 interceptions in 105 career games (87 starts) across his first 10 seasons, we know Winston won't hesitate to throw the ball up and let his pass-catchers go make a play.

"I've been waiting on this moment, man," Winston told the media Wednesday. "So, the shock was off, the rust is off. It's like, hey, you get to play. And when you get to play, nothing else matters but taking it one play at a time and doing your very best. Because we all have different circumstances, conditions, and facts and I know that. But, man, I'm extremely grateful. I choose to focus on what's true and that's my mentality, that's my opportunity, being able to lead this team, and that's my action. So going out there, being energetic, enthusiastic, serving every single way that I can, and playing the best football I possibly can play."

HODGINS RETURNS & MORE ROSTER MOVES

The Giants brought a familiar face back into the fold on Thursday when they signed wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins off the Steelers' practice squad. The move came while wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey was signed to the Broncos' active roster off the Giants' practice squad.

Hodgins was originally claimed off waivers by the Giants in the middle of the 2022 campaign. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound wideout went on to play in eight games with five starts that season and caught 33 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns. His most memorable performance came in the team's Wild Card victory over the Vikings, where he led the Giants with eight receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. Hodgins played in all 17 games with nine starts the following year and finished with 21 receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns. In 28 games (14 starts) spanning three seasons with the Giants, Hodgins caught 56 passes for 593 yards and seven touchdowns.

To make room on the roster for Hodgins, the Giants placed kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve due to a neck injury. Gano, who missed the Week 10 matchup in Chicago, made nine of 10 field goal attempts this season with a long of 55 yards, while connecting on all nine extra point attempts. With Gano sidelined this past week, Younghoe Koe was elevated from the practice squad and made both field goal attempts (32 yards, 19 yards) along with both extra point attempts.

The Giants also made some changes to their practice squad this week, including the signing of kicker Ben Sauls. Additionally, outside linebacker Trace Ford, who spent training camp with the team, was signed to the practice squad, as was tight end Zach Davidson.

PLAYER TO WATCH

TE Theo Johnson – Lost in the shuffle of last week's defeat was the career day from Johnson. The second-year tight end set new career highs with his seven receptions on eight targets for 75 yards. While most of his 33 receptions for 314 yards and five touchdowns this season has come with Dart at QB, Johnson should have plenty of opportunities with Winston under center. Browns tight end David Njoku caught 5+ passes in five of six games he played with Winston at quarterback last year, with a total of four touchdowns in those games. Green Bay has allowed 60 receptions to tight ends this season, tied for the seventh-most, while their five touchdowns to the position are tied for the ninth-most.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

LT Andrew Thomas vs. DE Micah Parsons – Since returning in Week 3, Thomas has looked like his normal dominant self. The left tackle has surrendered zero sacks and just nine total pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus, including one or fewer pressures allowed in five of his seven full games. But Thomas has his toughest challenge of the year this weekend as he goes up against Micah Parsons. The former Cowboy has 6.5 sacks this season, while his 50 total pressures are the third-most in the NFL.

PACKER TO WATCH

RB Josh Jacobs – Jacobs' efficiency is down a bit this year with an average of 3.8 yards per carry, but that has not stopped the veteran back from continuously finding the end zone. Through nine games, Jacobs is already up to 11 rushing touchdowns, the second-most in the NFL and just four shy of his career-high set last year. The 27-year-old has scored a touchdown in each of the last six games, including three games with multiple scores, and has found the end zone in all but one game this season. When the Packers get close to the goal line, the ball typically goes to Jacobs. He has also caught 28 passes for 237 yards, with his 845 total yards from scrimmage ranking 10th in the league.

STAT TO KNOW

Heading into Week 11, the Packers have the NFL's No. 1 offense on third down as they have converted on 47.8 percent of their third down attempts. They still rank No. 1 after going just five of 13 on third down last week against the Eagles. Meanwhile, the Giants come into this game with the No. 14 third down defense, allowing a first down on 37.8 percent of opponents' third down attempts. The unit held the Bears to just three conversions on 11 third down attempts last week. The Giants offense also comes in at No. 14 in third down offense, while the Packers third down defense ranks No. 9.

View photos of the history between the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers.

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