Giants vs. Falcons: Preview, prediction, what to watch for

An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Falcons Week 16 matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta:Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs.Giants ILB Micah McFadden Of course, this is not a mano-a-mano confrontation, but these two combatants will meet up several times on the field.

Robinson is an excellent player.He is fifth in the league in rushing with 1,102 yards, trailing Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Kyren Williams.

Robinson also has 54 receptions.Was he worth the No.

8-overall draft pick in 2023? That’s certainly debatable. McFadden is one of the best values on the Giants roster.The fifth-round pick in 2022 is the team leader with 102 tackles and is making the defensive calls with Bobby Okereke injured and out of action.

Alas, the Giants are 31st in stopping the run, allowing 143.7 yards per game. Normally, a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start would be fresh meat to a defense.Has anything about this Giants’ season been remotely normal? Would anyone be surprised if Michael Penix Jr.

lights it up? There were ridiculous coverage busts last week with so many new guys in the secondary.The Falcons’ defense is not good — they’ve given up 14 more points this season than the Giants — but have you seen the Giants offense? Falcons 27, Giants 16 First timer: Whenever a rookie quarterback makes his NFL starting debut, there is a chance he is not quite ready for the speed and intensity of the game.

Micah McFadden spent four years in college at Indiana with new Falcons starting QB Michael Penix Jr., and McFadden recalls as freshmen, Penix was already ahead of the curve. “I remember somebody told me, ‘Man, that Penix guy, they installed the offense and he knew the playbook by Day 2,’’ McFadden said.“Smart quarterback, knows the system.

I’m sure he has a pretty good understanding of the play book.And sometimes with rookies, they simplify a little bit and they keep it cookie-cutter.

From the guy I know, he’s never really n...