Players to Watch in Week 16 matchup

With Bobby Okereke sidelined for the last two games, Micah McFadden has stepped up in a big way in the middle of the Giants’ defense. One week after he racked up 11 total tackles, including a career-high five tackles for loss, the third-year linebacker finished yet again with 11 total tackles while adding his third sack of the season. McFadden played a big role in slowing down Alvin Kamara and the Saints’ run game in Week 14, and while the Ravens had more success on the ground this past weekend, McFadden did help contain Derrick Henry to 67 total yards.

McFadden has gotten better each season he’s been in the NFL. He recorded 101 total tackles (63 solo), 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and one sack across 16 games last season. Through his first 13 games of the 2024 campaign (he missed the season opener), McFadden has already set a new career-best with 102 total tackles (57 solo) to go with eight tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and a career-high three sacks. He will have his hands full again this week with yet another elite running back on deck. Bijan Robinson had a season-high 125 yards on 22 carries in the Falcons’ Monday night victory over the Raiders. Robinson has 1,102 yards on the ground through 14 games, already beating his rushing total from last year.

With Tyler Nubin placed on injured reserve, Dane Belton saw his second extended action of the season against the Ravens. Belton played 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, which marked only the second time this year he’s played every snap. Not only did he play a lot, but Belton was all over the field against Baltimore. The third-year safety registered a team-high 15 total tackles, nine more than he’s had in any other game in his young NFL career. Belton added his first sack of the season along with a pass breakup to his final stats.

Belton will have a big opportunity to showcase what he can do over the final three games of the year. Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has not done a ton this season, but at 6-foot-6 and 246-pounds, he offers a physical mismatch against just about every safety across the NFL. Pitts caught four passes for 28 yards on Monday night, and has 40 receptions for 536 yards and three touchdowns on the season.