NFL’s Week 1 preseason schedule features a Thursday Night Football doubleheader, and the second game is a showdown between the New York Giants and Detroit Lions.
Here is everything you need to know surrounding the Giants vs. Lions Week 1 preseason game, including the time, channel, live stream options, and more.
Detroit Lions at New York Giants
- Start time: Thursday, August 8, 2024, 7 p.m. ET
- Channel: Local
- Live stream options: NFL+
- Radio stations: Lions Radio Network, WFAN 660 AM and 101.9 FM
- Starting QBs: Nate Sudfeld, Daniel Jones
- Betting lines:
- Spread: NYG -3.5
- Total: 35
- Moneyline: NYG -180, DET +150
If the first few days of joint practices between these teams are any indicator, it might get a little testy. The Lions and Giants found themselves in multiple scuffles (and wound up getting fined by the NFL) as they duked it out in drills throughout the week. Right in the thick of it was Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.
The extracurriculars might scare New York’s coaching staff, given Jones’ injuries last season, but it’s good to see the sixth-year quarterback fired up in what feels like a make-or-break season. After navigating to a playoff berth in 2022, the roster came crashing down last season due to injuries and Jones’ regression.
While the Giants could’ve selected Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, or Bo Nix, New York decided to take the second wide receiver in the draft, Malik Nabers, to give Jones one more shot at proving to the coaching staff and front office that he’s ready to lead the Giants.
With a young but talented defense in the fold, can New York be competitive at the top of the NFC East again?
Meanwhile, the Lions have massive expectations to live up to after falling just short in the NFC Championship Game in 2023. After signing QB Jared Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and OT Penei Sewell to new contracts this offseason, the Lions are ready to keep the momentum they built from last season, given some high roster continuity.
While Goff likely won’t see much time in the preseason, second-year QB Hendon Hooker will get his first NFL snaps after missing last preseason after tearing his ACL. However, he will have to fight off Nate Sudfeld, and according to the Lions’ first depth chart, he’s losing that battle. While Detroit does expect bigger things from Hooker than Sudfeld, they have made it clear they aren’t going to coddle the second-year QB.
While a tougher schedule could complicate Detroit’s postseason placement, the NFC North powerhouse has shown it’s put together a solid roster to fend off some of the NFL’s best.
Will the Lions be able to keep hold of the NFC North with quarterback Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers right on their heels? Lions head coach Dan Campbell has done a stellar job turning Detroit’s historically bad franchise around. Now that they’ve reached the division’s top, will the Lions cave under the pressure?
