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Giants vs. Steelers: 5 biggest storylines for Week 8

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 20: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants looks to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at MetLife Stadium on October 20, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 20: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants looks to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at MetLife Stadium on October 20, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The New York Giants (2-5) travel out to Western Pennsylvania to face the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) this week on Monday Night Football.

Here are the five biggest storylines of Week 8.

Mara gives Schoen and Daboll a vote of confidence

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 26: (L-R) President and CEO John K. Mara of the New York Giants talks with head coach Brian Daboll prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 26: (L-R) President and CEO John K. Mara of the New York Giants talks with head coach Brian Daboll prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Giants co-owner John Mara is apparently tired of the coaching carousel his team has been on since Tom Coughlin left in 2015. This week, he assured head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen that their jobs were safe despite another 2-5 start and a 17-23-1 record since taking over the team three seasons ago.

"Obviously, we're all very disappointed with where we are right now," Mara said. "But I'm going to say one thing, we are not making any changes this season, and I do not anticipate making any changes in the offseason, either."

Can the Giants win for once in primetime with Daniel Jones at QB?

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 13: Vonn Bell #24 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackles Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium on October 13, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 13: Vonn Bell #24 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackles Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium on October 13, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Monday night will mark Giants quarterback Daniel Jones' 16th appearance on primetime TV.

The first 15 have not gone well. The Giants are 1-14 in primetime games in which Jones starts, including playoffs.

This week's game in Pittsburgh on Monday night will be the third primetime game in the last five weeks for the Giants. They lost, 20-15, at home to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday in Week 4 and 17-7 to Cincinnati on Sunday night at home in Week 6.

The Giants are six-point underdogs in the game, per BetMGM.

Big Blue will play twice more on national television this season. In Week 10, they will face the Carolina Panthers in Germany -- a 9:30 a.m. EDT start -- and on Thanksgiving in Dallas against the Cowboys.

Their other seven remaining games are all scheduled in the 1:00 p.m. EDT Sunday window.

Giants have a T.J. Watt problem

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 24: Evan Neal #73 of the New York Giants blocks against the New York Jets during the second quarter of a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 24, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 24: Evan Neal #73 of the New York Giants blocks against the New York Jets during the second quarter of a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 24, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

The Giants' offensive line is still in flux after losing stud left tackle Andrew Thomas for the year to a foot injury two weeks ago. Joshua Ezeudu filled in last week against Philadelphia last week but was rusty and overwhelmed at times.

The Giants could go with recently signed veteran Chris Hubbard there this week against the Steelers but now the right tackle spot is an issue. Starter Jermaine Eluemunor (hip) is questionable for the game.

That means the Giants would insert former first-round pick Evan Neal, who hasn't played a down in nearly a year, and hope he can contain the Steelers' All-World pass rusher T.J. Watt.

"Well, he has a significant challenge ahead of him," said Daboll. "With Watt lining up over there. He's done everything he can do to be as prepared as he can be and has to go out there and do it. But certainly, a tough challenge to be the first time out."

Will Daniel Jones last the whole game?

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 20: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants motions at the line of scrimmage
during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on October 20, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 20: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants motions at the line of scrimmage during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on October 20, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Last week, Daniel Jones was lifted in the fourth quarter of the Giants' 28-3 loss to the Eagles at home and replaced with backup Drew Lock. It was the first time in his career that he was "benched."

Jones seemed to handle the move professionally, but who can really tell with him? He knows he wasn't playing well at the time and was already sacked seven times. The game was essentially over.

Brian Daboll said after the game that he was trying to find a "spark" and decided to make a switch at quarterback. It didn't work. Lock was incessantly harassed and could not move the team, either.

Jones was asked this week if he learned anything from the benching.

"I think there's some things you take from it that you're trying to learn from," he said. "But does it change or is it completely different because he pulled me from the game? No it’s not. We all got to play better, I got to play better and that's what I'm focusing on."

A defeat could mean another lost season

New York Giants Head Coach, Brian Daboll, in the fourth quarter, just before his team beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, Sunday, January 7, 2024.
New York Giants Head Coach, Brian Daboll, in the fourth quarter, just before his team beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, Sunday, January 7, 2024.

A loss in Pittsburgh on Monday night would drop the Giants to 2-6, which would basically extinguish any hopes of rallying back and reaching the postseason this year.

As we published earlier this week, there are precedents, though, that provide a slight glimmer of hope.

Since 1990, 10 teams who began the season at 2-5 have gone on to qualify for the playoffs. Five of those teams accomplished the feat since 2018 and at least one 2-5 team has done it in each of the last four seasons.

If they fall to 2-6, their chances diminish greatly. Only three teams in the Super Bowl era who began the season losing six of their first eight games have qualified for the postseason (Cincinnati in 1970, Washington in 2020, and Jacksonville in 2022).

So, there's a chance...

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants vs. Steelers: 5 biggest storylines for Week 8