New York Giants: Olivier Vernon, players to watch vs. Falcons in Week 7

The New York Giants face the Atlanta Falcons Monday night in a battle of struggling squads. Here are three Big Blue players to watch in that contest.

The 2018 NFL season is quickly headed to oblivion for the New York Giants. Big Blue trudges into Atlanta for a matchup with the Falcons this Monday night sporting a 1-5 record and with their playoff hopes all but dashed in the NFC East. Atlanta is a 4.5-point favorite, per oddsshark.com.

The Falcons aren’t exactly setting the league on fire either with their disappointing 2-4 ledger. One thing is for sure — if either team wants to keep their faint playoff hopes alive they must win this nationally televised contest.

Let’s take a look at three Giants players to watch in what should be a high-scoring, entertaining affair.

3. Olivier Vernon, OLB

If the G-Men are to stand a good chance of winning this game, they’ll need to elicit pressure on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan. The Giants have a paltry seven sacks on the year, tied with New England and Oakland for the lowest mark in the league. That’s pretty pathetic but New York welcomed Vernon back last week against the Eagles and he is easily their best weapon in getting to the opposing quarterback.

The seven-year NFL veteran missed the first five games of the season with an ankle injury but looked pretty strong in limited snaps. The University of Miami product recorded a sack and two solo tackles and displayed his skill set by dialing up the pressure on Carson Wentz. New York must make Ryan uncomfortable in the pocket, make him move his feet, take him off his rhythm.

Vernon has 45 career sacks and is New York’s best pass rusher. Although Monday’s game will be just his second of the season, he needs to penetrate into Atlanta’s backfield and harass “Matty Ice” as much as possible. Otherwise, in what has become a lost season, the Giants can kiss whatever faint playoff hopes they may have remaining goodbye.