Who said the Giants don't have a quarterback?
On Sunday, Drew Lock had his best passing game as a Giants quarterback since the end of the 2019 season, leading to a 45-32 upset win over the Colts and capping off an incredible offensive outburst for the NFL's worst-placed team. promoted.
“It was almost perfect,” receiver Darius Slayton said of Lock's performance. “It's hard to play better than that.”
Of course, just because a journeyman backup heading to free agency after the season had a great game doesn't change the Giants' plans to draft a new franchise quarterback — 10 points in a win won't change the Giants' plans to draft a new franchise quarterback. Although the path to getting there has become a little more difficult, due to a slippage in the game, he is no longer able to hold onto the No. 1 pick in 2025.
But it was impossible to ignore the rarity of Lock's 309-yard, four-touchdown (and fifth touchdown) performance.
He joins Tommy DeVito (1) as the only Giants players to throw for three or more touchdowns in a game since the start of the 2020 season, and is the first Giants quarterback since Daniel Jones on December 22, 2019. Achieved a 5 touchdown game. .
“This means a lot,” Lock said after completing 17 of 23 passes. “I knew it was in me.”
Head coach Brian Daboll has clearly been tough on Lock all week after he threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in last week's loss to the Falcons.
The Giants strangely inherited Lock to replace Tommy DeVito after the Jones era ended in November, looking to start again (for the fourth time in six games since Jones was released) and replacing him. left results.
“That's what the offense needs to do. That's how the quarterback needs to perform,” Daboll said. “I'm happy with Drew and how he played. I'm proud of him. Last week wasn't good. I did pretty well with him. But he's a mentally tough guy, I had a good week.”
Rock responded well to Daboll's style.
“Daves is fierce,” Locke said. “But at the same time…I've been jumped on before. I've been yelled at. I'm used to it. I can come out of my shell, I can take it like a man. I always need that. He expects as much from me as I do for myself. At least I can appreciate that.”
Lock completed 7 of 8 passes and scored three touchdowns (one each to receivers Malik Nabors, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton).
He threw one more pitch to Nabers, but a 5-yard touchdown scramble with his feet near third-and-goal sealed the win and extended the lead to 42-33 with 2:57 left.
“He was hitting the ball,” right tackle Jermaine Elemunor said. “He was doing it little by little.” [shuffle] thing. This is the man who took the brunt of it. Playing quarterback is tough. It's hard to play quarterback in New York. It was so cool to watch him go out there and do what he has to do. ”
