The Giants‘ need for a franchise quarterback has been clear since Daniel Jones‘ downfall, but it was painfully obvious while watching Drew Lock start over Tommy DeVito in New York’s latest blowout loss, a 34-7 defeat Sunday at the Atlanta Falcons.
Takeaways
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No matter whom the Giants start, quarterback is a lost cause. Lock got the nod over DeVito, who cleared concussion protocol for Week 16 but took a backseat after exiting last Sunday’s 35-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and quite literally handed the slow-starting Falcons (8-7) the game. Fueled by two pick sixes — Jessie Bates III‘s 55-yarder midway through the second quarter and Matthew Judon‘s 27-yarder to open the second half. Lock gave New York (2-13) no chance while completing 22 of 39 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown to the two game-changing interceptions. Lock added a third turnover on a fumble — his fourth in five games — late in the second quarter. The Giants, who inched back ahead of the 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders for the NFL’s worst record and 2025 draft’s No. 1 overall pick, desperately need a quarterback as they look to get their franchise back on track.
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Despite New York’s dreadful quarterbacking, Malik Nabers somehow set the franchise’s single-season record for receptions. With his seven catches for 68 yards on 14 targets, he reached 97 on the year and passed Odell Beckham Jr.‘s 91 in 2014. Whether general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll stay or not, the Giants have to find a quarterback for Nabers. Otherwise, New York is simply wasting the rookie-contract flexibility of a rare and win-now talent.
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One of the six first-round quarterbacks whom the Giants passed on in the 2024 NFL Draft, Michael Penix Jr., was 18-for-27 passing with 202 yards as he made his first career start. The No. 8 overall pick was without a touchdown and did throw a late-second-quarter interception but ultimately operated the Falcons’ offense in a manner that New York has to be wishing that it had, given how poorly Lock and the others on the roster have played.
Who’s the MVP?
Bijan Robinson, who rushed 22 times for 94 yards (4.3 average) and two touchdowns to bury New York.
Highlights
What’s next
The Giants take a 10-game losing streak into Week 17 as they host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday at 1 p.m. in their 2024 season’s home finale.
