The 2013 season didn't go as it was supposed to for the New York Giants and Detroit Lions. The G-men couldn't overcome an 0-6 start and suffered through a year full of turnovers and Manningface. The Lions had a pristine road to the NFC North title paved out before them, but lost six of their last seven and missed the playoffs.
How to watch Giants vs. Lions 2014: Time, TV schedule, online streaming, radio and more
New York and Detroit look to put a rough 2013 in the rear-view mirror.
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Those failures sparked significant turnover for both franchises. The Lions canned head coach Jim Schwartz and replaced him with Jim Caldwell. The Giants dropped longtime offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and brought in Ben McAdoo to fix what the team owner called a “broken” offense.
One team will get 2014 off on the right foot on Monday night when they meet in Detroit. The other will face a week’s worth of tough questions about whether its retooling has it on track.
How to watch
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
When: 7:10 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Radio: Giants local listings | Lions local listings
Online streaming: WatchESPN.com
More on the matchup
The contest between the Giants' offensive line and the Lions' defensive line is the thing to watch here. After the 2013 disaster, the Giants have replaced three of their five starters along the front, including longtime stalwarts David Diehl and Chris Snee. Eli Manning's turnover problems last year were fueled by pressure and incompetence in the running game, and turning things around starts up front.
They'll be looking to do that against a talented but underperforming Lions D-line. Nick Fairley was supposed to pair with Ndamukong Suh to create the best interior line in the league, but inconsistent play and weight issues have limited Fairley's impact. Caldwell benched Fairley during training camp hoping to motivate him, and reports indicate he's responded well. It appears as though he'll be back with the first-team defense on Monday night.
Further reading
Get everything Giants at Big Blue View. For more on the Lions, head on over to Pride of Detroit.
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