Giants vs. Texans: Preview, predictions, what to watch for

An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Texans matchup at MetLife Stadium. 

Marquee matchup

Texans WR Brandin Cooks vs. Giants CB Adoree’ Jackson 

It looks as if Cooks is going to make it for this game. He’s listed as questionable, but did not play last week with a wrist injury and did not practice Wednesday, the reason for the absence listed as wrist/personal. Cooks made it clear he wanted to get dealt at the trade deadline, and he is not a happy camper. He also is a real threat, leading Houston in receptions (32) and receiving yards (354). 

If his attitude is right, he would pose a big challenge to Jackson, who had a splendid first half of the season as the unquestioned No. 1 cornerback on this defense. Nico Collins is a deep threat, and the Texans throw it to their tight ends, but Cooks is their main guy. 

Paul’s pick

It’s hard to believe the absence of Xavier McKinney is not going to have an adverse effect on the back end of the Giants defense and directly lead to points for the Texans. It seems as if expecting big things with the return of WR Kenny Golladay is wishful thinking. Maybe Saquon Barkley will exploit a shabby run defense. If not, another slog for the home team is likely, given how the Giants are built. 

Giants 24, Texans 20 

4 downs 

Angry young man: Dameon Pierce is proof that quality running backs can come later in the draft. He was a 2022 fourth-round pick for the Texans out of Florida and is sixth in the NFL in rushing with 678 yards. He is third in the league with 50 missed tackles forced (Josh Jacobs and Nick Chubb are tied for the lead with 51). Pierce has a definitive running style. 

“I don’t know who said something to him or did something to him to make him so angry, but that might be the angriest runner in the league,’’ Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said, likening Pierce to Earl Campbell and Jamal Lewis. That’s a bit rich, but you get the point. 

“He really pops out on film,’’ defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence said. “We know we’re going to have to bring out our hard hats tackling him.’’ 

Rested and ready: Normally, a team coming off a bye week has a big advantage in that it is the more well-rested and healthy team. Any possible edge for the Giants is mitigated, as the Texans are coming off a Thursday night game and thus will have had 10 days between games when they take the field. 

“Feel like we’re rested,’’ Giants head coach Brian Daboll said earlier in the week. “The guys have had a lot of good energy here these last couple of days.’’ 

No eruption yet: No one is disappointed with what Kayvon Thibodeaux has contributed in his rookie season. In six games, he has one sack, 14 combined tackles, one forced fumble and three quarterback hits. His grade of 63.3 by Pro Football Focus is slightly below that of classmate Aidan Hutchinson of the Lions (66.9) and slightly better than Jacksonville’s No. 1-overall pick Travon Walker (59.9) — the two edge rushers picked ahead of Thibodeaux. Perhaps the first-year feeling-out process is behind him, and Thibodeaux will make more plays like the strip-sack of Lamar Jackson that sealed an impressive victory over the Ravens. 

‘X’ marks the absence: The Giants can, and have, talked day and night about “next man up’’ and the need to move forward without safety Xavier McKinney, but that is far easier said than done. He did not miss a snap on defense all season and was a huge piece of the situational success this unit has created. McKinney has fractured fingers as a result of a bye-week accident in Mexico. The job of making the calls from Martindale to the players will fall on Julian Love. He should handle that with aplomb. Now Love has to make sure he does not try to do too much to make up for the loss of McKinney. 

“He’s a rising star in this league,’’ Love said. “The emphasis has to be on guys just to not let it feel like there’s such a big hole.’’