- WHERE: Allianz Arena (Munich)
- WHEN: 9:30 a.m. ET | NFL Network, NFL+
A pair of two-win teams are set to close out the 2024 International Games in Munich.
For New York, the trip abroad presents an opportunity to get back in the win column for the first time since Oct. 6, four games and more than a month ago. The Giants’ 2-3 season quickly spiraled into a 2-7 one, but they’ve hung tight in the past two contests -- both one-possession games. Plus, they're 3-0 in international games all time, although each of the previous three took place in London.
Carolina, meanwhile, snapped its five-game losing streak last week thanks to a Bryce Young-led comeback against the New Orleans Saints, which sets the second-year quarterback up to possibly score the first winning streak of his career.
Both the Giants and Panthers will receive a bye to recover following their Germany visit.
One will return to the United States with a glimmer of hope for a miracle run; the other heads back knowing their playoff shot is almost all but over.
Here are three things to watch for when the Giants and Panthers square off in Germany on Sunday on NFL Network and NFL+:
1) Something’s gotta give. When the Giants’ last-ranked scoring offense takes on the Panthers’ last-ranked scoring defense, it will mark the 13th such matchup since 2000 in Week 5 or later -- a point at which you know the struggle isn’t some mirage. In those previous instances, the team with the bottom-ranked offense has gone 8-4, and there's reason to believe things could tilt that way again. Not only have the Panthers been the NFL’s worst in 2024 at keeping other teams off the scoreboard, they’re on pace to allow the third-most points per game (32.5) in a season in the Super Bowl era. Thus far, Carolina’s best outing in terms of points allowed is 22 -- albeit a score Big Blue has eclipsed just once. Can the G-Men take advantage? That’s likely entirely dependent on which Daniel Jones shows up. He’s one of six quarterbacks to have at least four games with two-plus touchdown passes and zero interceptions this season, but in his other five games he’s combined for zero TD throws and five picks. Carolina represents the perfect opponent for him to log another positive outing. With a 78.7 passer rating since 2023 (better than only Bryce Young in that span; minimum 400 attempts), Jones needs to -- he's quickly running out of time to prove he’s the guy.
2) Bryce Young looks to keep evolving. It hasn’t been at all perfect, but Young's been markedly more composed since returning from his benching from Weeks 3-7. Although the former No. 1 overall pick has tossed three interceptions over his past two games, he’s also had three touchdown passes, bringing his season stat line to 694 passing yards with the aforementioned three TDs and six INTs. Prior to this two-game stretch, he had just three TD throws across his previous 10 starts. That is obviously not what a team is looking for from the face of its franchise, but baby steps still amount to steps. Young played well enough with his game-winning drive in Week 9 to get another start, especially considering Carolina is squarely in evaluation mode five games under .500. If Young is to build momentum, though, he’ll need to against the most sack-happy team of 2024. The Giants currently sit first in the league with 35, led by Dexter Lawrence (9.0), Azeez Ojulari (6.0) and Brian Burns (5.0), who is facing off against his former squad. Seventeen of the team's sacks have come by way of blitzing, again tops across the NFL and something to keep an eye on. While Young posted a 101.2 passer rating against the blitz in the past two starts, his rating was 46.5 against it during his first two of the campaign.
3) Youth movement on both offenses. Adam Thielen, 34, remains on the team, but thanks to the Panthers becoming sellers at the trade deadline, shipping Diontae Johnson to Baltimore and Jonathan Mingo to Dallas, first-round rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette and undrafted rookie WR Jalen Coker now have plenty of spotlight. Legette started off slow, but he’s picked up the pace with a touchdown reception in each of the past two games to lead the team with four. Coker has complemented him, sliding into the slot role with 114 yards and a score on six catches since Week 8. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is coming on strong, too -- he’s had at least five targets in four of his past five games after seeing six combined through the first month of action. Even Jonathon Brooks, drafted first among rookie running backs at 46th overall and newly off the physically unable to perform list, could make his debut. As for the Giants, Malik Nabers needs no introduction. New York’s offense runs through him, and from the uptick in double teams, everyone knows it. He’s second in the NFL in both targets per game (12.0) and receptions per game (7.9), and his mark of 79.6 receiving yards per contest is eighth. Fourth-round tight end Theo Johnson has acquitted himself well with 17 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown, and fifth-rounder Tyrone Tracy Jr. has seemingly commandeered the RB1 job. Tracy’s 17 catches match Johnson’s, while his 442 rushing yards have come on the strength of countless eye-opening runs and already two 100-yard games on the ground.
