New York Giants vs. New England Patriots: 6 keys to victory in Week 13

The New York Giants and New England Patriots face off on Monday Night Football at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, in Week 13 action.

This will be the 15th time the Giants and Patriots have met, and the series is currently tied 7-7. The Giants are 3-2 in the last five games, which includes the last Super Bowl victory for the Giants' franchise. Make no mistake, though, this year's Patriots are not the same Patriots the Giants have faced in their last two meetings.

Mike Vrabel has taken the Patriots to a whole new level in 2025. They currently sit atop the entire NFL as the only 10-win team, and they have been quietly stating their case as this year's Super Bowl favorites.

But that doesn't mean they are infallible, either. The Patriots have two losses on their record, which means they can be defeated. The question is, can the Giants add a third loss to the Patriots' record?

Let's take a look at six keys to a Giants' victory over the Patriots in Week 13.

Jaxson Dart's poise in the pocket vs. man coverage

Jaxson Dart was finally given clearance to fully participate in practice this week after suffering a concussion in Week 10. Dart, who has a 93.5 passer rating and 17 total touchdowns in nine starts, must thrive in zone looks by ditching designed runs post-concussion and using quick releases to counter the Patriots' planned man press and spy. If he can lean into his 5.9% big-time throw rate, the Giants' spread offense can sustain drives and keep the offense on the field.

Exploit Patriots' depleted offensive line

Patriots left tackle Will Campbell was placed on injured reserve (IR) with a knee injury, and left guard Jared Wilson is doubtful with a high ankle sprain. Dexter Lawrence is questionable with an elbow injury, and there are a few linebackers who are questionable with other injuries. However, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter are healthy and expected to play. They have to take advantage of the injuries to the left side of Drake Maye and attack him on his blind side.

Maye has proven to be a solid NFL quarterback, but he's not without weaknesses, and he's going to get flustered early if the Giants can pressure him on the side where he's the most vulnerable.

Mike Kafka's play-calling keeps Mike Vrabel off-balance

Mike Kafka's aggressive fourth-down decisions and shotgun-heavy spreads as interim head coach add unpredictability to the Giants in all facets of the game. The Patriots' staff may be overconfident in their 10-2 streak, especially given that they sit atop the NFL as the only 10-win team. The Giants have won just two games this season, but they have nothing to lose at this point. They can afford to take big risks that reap big rewards, but are also incredibly risky, because they have no postseason aspirations.

Motivational edge from interim overhaul

The Giants' administration didn't want to rock the boat too much at once by firing both Shane Bowen and Brian Daboll at the same time, so they chose to let Daboll go first. Bowen was fired second, and Charlie Bullen took over as interim coordinator. His voice, along with Kafka's, provides a fresh perspective that instills urgency in a locker room that's eyeing 2026 playoff contention. In contrast, Vrabel's tight-knit but potentially complacent Patriots are chasing their bye week. The Giants can break away from their road demons on Monday Night Football with a statement upset. Not only have the Giants not won a road game since October 2024, but a win against the league-leading Patriots puts the NFL on notice for 2026.

Protect Jaxson Dart

This should be an obvious key to every victory. Protect the guy in charge of moving the sticks. The guy in charge of making sure the offense executes the plays called by the head coach. He can't be that guy if he's sitting in an ice bath on the sideline because he got hit too many times. Or because he has a concussion, because he wasn't protected on the field. The offense has to protect the rookie at all costs.

Repeat the song

Don't collapse in the fourth quarterSweat's your fuel, churn the field like mortarLegs like lead? Nah, that's just clatterCharge the field, it's victory that mattersRhyme. Wash. Repeat. Play four full quarters and don't forget your job just because it's the end of the game. Play 60 minutes, start to finish.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots: 6 keys to victory in Week 13