Giants vs. Rams: Preview, prediction, what to watch for in Week 17

An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Rams Week 17 matchup at MetLife Stadium.

Marquee matchup

Rams DT Aaron Donald vs. the entire Giants interior offensive line

Yup, that’s right.

Three players might be needed to deal with one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history.

Are guards Justin Pugh and Ben Bredeson and rookie center John Michael Schmitz up to the challenge?

Donald, 32, is still going strong in his 10th year, but there are rumblings he is not the fearsome force he once was, as he has only six sacks.

But he also has 14 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits and Pro Football Focus has Donald with 82 total pressures — 14 more than any defensive tackle.

Sure, this is a far cry from his outrageous 2018 season (20.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss).

He can still take over a game, though.

Paul’s pick

The Rams are rolling.

The Giants are getting ready to pack up.

If form holds, this will not be an especially close game.

Motivation is strongly on the side of the road team here, as is a potent passing attack and underrated Kyren Williams, who already has 1,057 rushing yards.

Tyrod Taylor brings a calming presence but the offense hasn’t lit up anything no matter who this team puts out at quarterback.

Rams 30, Giants 17

Four downs

Back in the saddle: No one has taken sides, as far as which quarterback deserves to start.

The players tried to rally around Tommy DeVito when the rookie was forced onto the field.

There is no doubt the players believe that Tyrod Taylor can get the job done as he returns to the starting lineup.

“He’s a veteran guy, he’s confident, he knows what he’s doing and I feel it helps guys feed off that,’’ said wide receiver Darius Slayton, who hauled in a 69-yard bomb from Taylor for a touchdown last week in Philly. “Different people have different skill sets and different abilities and see the game differently. Some people are more aggressive, some people are a little more conservative and those can help and hurt you in different ways. Every quarterback is different for sure.’’

Oldie but goodie: The Giants are trying to figure out their quarterback situation, having started three of them this season.

The Rams merrily roll along with Matthew Stafford, who at 35 years old continues to sling the ball all over the place.

He comes in having thrown two or more touchdown passes and a passer rating over 100 in five straight games.

The trade for Stafford worked spectacularly for the Rams, who cashed in with a Super Bowl in Stafford’s first season.

The Lions did not do too shabbily, though.

Jared Goff is playing well and the draft picks they received or maneuvered to get in the deal brought in safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta.

Last roundup: It will be beneficial to Taylor if he starts the last two games and puts some strong play on tape, as he is unsigned for 2024 and, as this season has shown around the league, a quality backup quarterback is more necessity than luxury.

Taylor called it “a privilege’’ to get back on the field.

“Guys are still encouraged,’’ he said. “Obviously, it wasn’t the season that we wanted, but we have all of it in front of us to finish it out the way that we want to. There are still goals within this locker room that we know that we can achieve.’’

Wrong direction: Jamie Gillan got his team off on the wrong foot in last week’s loss to the Eagles with a poorly-hit 41-yard punt that was easily returned 54 yards to set up a walk-in touchdown.

Gillan tweaked his knee attempting to make the tackle on the return but said that had nothing to do with his next punt, a line drive that went just 30 yards.

He lamented misreading the wind and for not directing his kicks to the left instead of the right.

He made the adjustment and his subsequent punts were better.

As for playing through groin and knee issues, Gillan said he is fine.

“There’s no excuses because if I choose to play then there’s still a standard, regardless whether I’m sore or not,’’ Gillan told The Post.