Week 3 brings a reunion-heavy matchup to MetLife Stadium, where the New York Giants will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at 1 p.m.
FanDuel has the Giants opening as 6.5-point favorites at home against an 0-2 Titans team, though that number could shift depending on what happens tonight. On paper, it’s a comfortable line. In reality, the game comes loaded with enough familiar faces and coaching ties to make it one of the more intriguing matchups on the schedule.
The Giants and Titans haven’t crossed paths since 2022, when New York pulled off a stunner against a Tennessee team that had just come off a 12-4 season. The Titans missed a last-second field goal, the Giants walked away with the win, and the ripple effects were immediate. Tennessee’s slide began there, while New York used the momentum to finish 9-7-1, reach the playoffs and secure its first postseason victory since 2011.
This meeting carries a different kind of weight because of all the overlap between the two teams. A number of former Giants are set to return to the Meadowlands, including starting slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, starting center Austin Schlottman and second tight end Daniel Bellinger on Tennessee’s offense. On the other side, cornerback Cor’Dale Flott is starting for the Titans’ defense, though he sat out last week with a quad injury, so his availability is worth watching.
The Giants tried to bring back both Robinson and Flott, but Tennessee outbid them. The Titans, described as cap-rich and talent-poor, landed both players in the process.
There’s also a fresh connection through the draft. Tennessee used the fourth overall pick on Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, while the Giants answered with his college teammate, linebacker Arvell Reese, one selection later.
Then there’s the coaching carousel, which may be the most compelling part of all. Brian Daboll returns to New York after serving as the Giants’ head coach from 2022 to 2025, before being fired mid-season.
He’s now Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, working to develop quarterback Cam Ward under Robert Saleh. Meanwhile, former Titans head coach Brian Callahan is now on the Giants’ staff as QB coach and passing game coordinator.
Tennessee also gave Philadelphia a real scare in Week 2, which adds another layer to the matchup. The Titans were almost completely bereft of talent a year ago, and they’re still a team in progress, but their rebuild may be moving faster than expected - or maybe the Eagles simply aren’t as formidable as many think.
However you slice it, the spread feels bigger than the gap on the field. The Giants may be favored, but this looks like a game with far more going on than the betting line suggests.
In Other News...
Rams Hit With Another Frustrating Issue Ahead Of Giants Game
The Rams opened the season with a loss to the 49ers, and the aftermath brought another layer of frustration for a team trying to steady itself before facing the Giants. The NFL levied fines against two Los Angeles players, with Tyler Davis docked $6,225 for a hit on Brock Purdy that involved contact to the head and neck area, while Nate Landman was fined $11,111 for unnecessary roughness tied to helmet use.
For a Rams team already dealing with the sting of a division defeat, the discipline is another unwelcome footnote as the week turns toward New York. The fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation, but the larger issue for Los Angeles is keeping its edge without crossing the line, especially with another important game on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Burns Just Became A Much Bigger Giants Money Question
Brian Burns was brought in to be a difference-maker, and the Giants have already treated his contract that way. Joe Schoen has reworked Burns deal twice to open up salary cap room for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, a clear sign of how aggressively the front office has tried to manage the books while building around a young core. The tradeoff, of course, is that the bill keeps moving down the road, with bigger cap hits waiting in 2027 and 2028.
Burns is signed through 2028, but the structure now gives the Giants another decision point: keep absorbing those future charges, or try to extend him again and smooth everything out before it gets tighter. It is part of a larger financial picture that already includes major upcoming considerations for Andrew Thomas and Kayvon Thibodeaux, which is why Burns has gone from high-end pass rusher to a much bigger roster-planning question. [Read more 🡒]
Giants-Rams Betting Twist Could Change Monday Night Touchdown Picks
Puka Nacuas groin injury is giving Monday nights matchup a different look before the Giants ever take the field. The Rams receiver is reportedly trending in the wrong direction, and that matters for a game that already had plenty of attention because of the betting market around anytime touchdown scorers.
If Nacua is out, the ripple effect reaches beyond Los Angeles and into how this game is being viewed from a Giants perspective. The player pool opens up in different directions, with Isaiah Likely, Davante Adams and Jaxson Dart all drawing consideration, while some options still come with the usual cautions around workload splits and defensive matchups. [Read more 🡒]