New York Giants vs. Patriots: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 13

The New York Giants will travel to face the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football in Week 13.

The Giants are coming off their sixth consecutive loss, which officially eliminated them from playoff contention. The Patriots, in contrast, are riding a nine-game winning streak, which has given them the best record in the NFL.

The Giants opened as significant road underdogs and remain so against one of the league's top teams heading into Monday.

Here are three reasons for optimism ahead of Monday night's matchup.

Extra rest

Injuries have plagued the Giants over the past several weeks. The team will hope to regain some key players ahead of the matchup, where any boost to the starting lineup would be welcome. The Giants are currently contending with injuries to Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence, which will likely weaken the defensive line for Monday night.

However, the Giants could benefit from the extra rest leading into the game. The team may be fortunate enough to welcome back quarterback Jaxson Dart for the matchup or to receive reinforcement in the secondary if Paulson Adebo can return. Such support in the secondary could prove particularly valuable against a Patriots offense that enters Week 13 with the NFL's highest completion percentage.

A change at defensive coordinator

The Giants' defense has been sorely disappointing throughout the season. However, after parting ways with Shane Bowen earlier this week -- a move many viewed as long overdue -- the unit may receive a much-needed spark from the play-calling of interim defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen. At this stage of the season, the defense's performance could scarcely deteriorate further, and even modest improvements could yield noticeable results.

Close games

Despite their 2-10 record, the Giants have been involved in numerous close contests this year. Their standing could have been markedly different without a series of late-game collapses, as fourth-quarter failures have emerged as a recurring issue for the team. The Giants, who secured a major upset in their most recent primetime appearance, are likely to keep this matchup tighter than anticipated, consistent with their performances throughout the season.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants vs. Patriots: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 13