Here are 10 final thoughts on the Giants' 24-22 win over the Packers, leaving us wondering how Tommy DeVito's family is getting their tailgate to New Orleans for Sunday's game against the Saints:
DeVito has an advantage
The DeVito story was great for social media memes and added fun to a season that had been dismal before the undrafted rookie took over as quarterback. But it's probably time for the football part of the story to take the focus away from celebrating the jammed finger and that Cheek kisses in the stands. Because DeVito has now made three impressive starts in a row.
DeVito has five touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 72.2 percent of his passes during the Giants' three-game winning streak. His passer rating of 119.8 since Week 11 is second best to San Francisco's Brock Purdy, another diamond in the rough.
It's premature to project DeVito as the next Purdy, who was the last pick in the 2022 draft and is currently an MVP contender for the NFL's best team. And it's far too early to compare DeVito to the ultimate underdog quarterback, Tom Brady, who went from a sixth-round pick to the greatest player in NFL history.
But Giants coach Brian Daboll was an assistant with the Patriots when Brady slumped, so he was asked Tuesday about those early days. Daboll interrupted the question and pointed out, “We’re still four games in.”
There's still a long way to go to find out whether DeVito is a flash in the pan or a real insider tip. But what isn't in question at this point is Daboll and his team's ability to get the most out of quarterbacks.
Daboll, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney have tailored the offense to highlight DeVito's strengths and mask his weaknesses. If it sounds familiar, it's because these employees did the same thing to Daniel Jones a year ago.
Monday night's offensive game plan looked eerily similar to the one Jones devised in a 27-22 win over the same Packers team last season. The Giants on Monday reintroduced the Wildcat formation that they used successfully in last season's matchup. And they ran a trick play – a 25-yard fleaflicker to Wan'Dale Robinson on Monday vs. a tight end option for a touchdown run by Daniel Bellinger last season.
In last season's win over Green Bay, Jones completed 21 of 27 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while adding 10 carries for 37 yards. DeVito completed 17 of 21 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions and 10 carries for 71 yards on Monday.
DeVito deserves credit for the big plays he made. But the fact that he plays so cleanly – no interceptions in his last three starts – is a testament to the coaching staff. It's clear that these coaches can elevate a quarterback's baseline game to a functional level.
The question is what these coaches can do with more talent. Daboll's track record with Bills quarterback Josh Allen is encouraging in that regard, while highlighting the best in Jones and DeVito only adds to the appeal of what they could do with a top prospect.
On the run
A key to Jones' progress last season was using his legs to escape pressure. Early in his career, he got into trouble for staying in the pocket too long, which led to sacks and turnovers. Daboll and Kafka designed plays to draw Jones out of the pocket, clearly telling him to bail at the first sign of pressure. He completed 65 scrambles last season, compared to 72 in his first three seasons combined.
The same message was clearly conveyed to DeVito, who was sacked an incredible 20 times in his first three starts. DeVito was pressured on 48.1 percent of his 27 dropbacks on Monday, so it's not like the offensive line is a wall. For comparison: Jones was under pressure on 45.5 percent of his dropbacks this season.
But DeVito wasn't sacked because he was able to escape the pocket much quicker than in his first three starts. On Monday, he rushed six times for 34 yards.
Coaches also made an adjustment at halftime to use DeVito on scheduled runs. On run calls, he had two carries for 39 yards in the third quarter.
The first was a 26-yard gain by a designated goalie while a lead blocker opened up a big lane. DeVito made a clever cut in the open field and would have scored had he not collided with wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson as he approached the goal line.
On the Giants' next drive, DeVito kept the ball on a play that had three options: a handoff to running back Saquon Barkley, a throw to Bellinger in the flat, or keep the ball. DeVito made the right decision and ran through a large lane for a 13-yard gain.
Both of DeVito's long runs were mainstays in the game plan last season. Expect DeVito's legs to be on display as the Giants look to replicate their 2022 offensive approach going forward.
Scramble mode
Daboll said last week's practice focused on scramble drills. The work was clearly worth it.
DeVito threw a perfect strike while rolling right for an 8-yard touchdown to wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins in the back corner of the end zone in the third quarter. DeVito couldn't have placed the ball better, as only a small window was opened as Hodgins turned and ran parallel to the quarterback along the back of the end zone.
Robinson made a huge 13-yard pass from DeVito down the sideline on another play in the second quarter as the quarterback escaped the pocket to his right. DeVito has proven he can throw effectively on the run, and his receivers helped him Monday by getting open and making catches when the play broke down.
Late game bug
Despite Barkley's talent and competitiveness, he made some crucial mistakes late in the game. The latest was his bizarre stumble after breaking up a 34-yard run that should have sealed Monday's win. The Packers recovered the ball, returned it 50 yards against a stunned Giants offense and then scored a touchdown with 1:33 left.
It was only the third loss of Barkley's six-year career. His second lost fumble occurred in a similar situation in Week 7 of this season. When the Giants took the lead by a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and drove deep into Washington territory, Barkley was removed from the game. The Commanders then drove the entire field but were stopped at the New York 7-yard line as the Giants escaped with a 14-7 victory.
Even though Barkley was able to keep the ball, he had some head-shaking plays late in games. He appeared to give up a run late in the Giants' Week 8 game against the Jets. With a three-point lead with 1:26 remaining, a first down would have sealed the win. But Barkley dove untouched onto the turf four yards from the marker instead of trying to get a first down. Barkley failed to get a first down on the next two plays, Graham Gano missed a 35-yard field goal and the Jets scored a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation to win 13-10 in overtime .
Last season, Barkley almost cost the Giants a game against the Jaguars when he went out of bounds to take the lead in the final minute. The Jaguars had no timeouts, so Barkley gave them a chance to go on a game-winning drive by stopping the clock with 1:04 left. The Jaguars made it to the New York 1-yard line before being stopped as the Giants cruised to a 23-17 victory.
Change of heart
Daboll sent the punt team onto the field after wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was stopped by a third-down catch one yard shy of a first down in the second quarter. Boos rained down from the crowd and Daboll changed his mind. He called a timeout and then sent the offense back onto the field.
Daboll said he didn't let the crowd affect him. Instead, Barkley channeled Jimmy Chitwood on the sideline.
“He said, ‘We’ll get it done. “Put it in my hands,” Daboll said. “I said, 'Okay, let's go.'”
There was no Hollywood ending as Barkley was thwarted inconclusively after a long run from a crowded backfield.
Tight end shuffle
The Giants continue to have just two tight ends on the game day roster, although that could change this week as Darren Waller hopes he will be ready to return from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him the last five games.
Lacking tight ends, the Giants used reserve guard Mark Glowinski as an additional blocker on nine plays. Glowinski served as a wrecking ball on Barkley's 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The 6-foot, 300-pound Glowinski got moving at the snap and headed around the left end, contributing to a massive build-up of bodies from both teams that cleared the way for Barkley to march into the end zone.
The Giants ran the ball on seven of Glowinski's nine snaps, and four of those plays were stopped for no gain or negative yards. But he was also on the field for both of Barkley's touchdown runs and the Flea Flicker to Robinson in the third quarter.
Ojulari impact
It's been a frustrating season for third-year fullback Azeez Ojulari, who missed six games due to injury and was ineffective on the field. Ojulari reminded of his potential on Monday evening.
Ojulari played a season-high 49 snaps and recorded his first sack of the season, shared with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, on a third down in the red zone in the fourth quarter. The 10-yard loss resulted in a missed 45-yard field goal, leaving the Giants holding a 21-13 lead.
Ojulari showed a sack kick that had been missing this season. That wasn't his only impact play, as he tied Lawrence with a team-high six pressures and made a game-winning tackle for a 5-yard loss on a push pass to wide receiver Jayden Reed at the Giants' second-and-5. 25 yard line in the fourth quarter. The Packers then settled for a field goal, cutting New York's lead to 21-16.
It's easy to give up on disappointing players, but Ojulari is talented and has a contract through 2024 with a cheap cap hit of $2.2 million. Therefore, the Giants should keep him in the hope that he stays healthy and reaches his full potential, while also taking major steps to bolster their contingency plans in case he can't shake the injury bug.
Share the burden
Lawrence made a big impression despite being on the pitch in his return from a hamstring injury. Lawrence, who played more than 70 percent of the defensive snaps early in the game, was limited to 42.6 percent of the snaps on Monday.
Used primarily as a pass rusher, Lawrence recorded six pressures and half a sack in just 20 pass rush snaps. Veterans A'Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches carried more of the load with Lawrence Limited. Robinson had eight tackles, two pressures, one tackle for a loss and one passed pass as he continues his strong play after a slow start to the season.
Not so special teams
The Giants' special teams continue to be involved in too many negative plays. A short punt was deflected by Giants safety Bobby McCain and tied by the Packers at the New York 14-yard line for a field goal midway through the third quarter.
The Giants could have had the ball at their own 40-yard line with 13 seconds left in the first half, but tight end Lawrence Cager was hit by a wayward kickoff before going out of bounds for the penalty. All Cager had to do was step out of bounds and touch the ball, and the Giants would have been rewarded with field position that could have allowed a field goal before halftime. But Cager's lack of awareness resulted in the ball going out of bounds at the Giants' 11-yard line. They knelt before heading to the locker room.
It wasn't all bad for the special teams, as shooting guard Darnay Holmes forced a fumble early in the third quarter that was recovered by Benton Whitley. The Giants took over at the Green Bay 31-yard line and scored a touchdown three plays later to take a 14-10 lead.
The evening ended on a high note when kicker Randy Bullock, who had previously missed a 48-yard field goal attempt, drilled the 37-yard game-winner as time expired.
Small chance
The main reason the Giants' playoff odds remain miniscule despite being just one game outside of the NFC's seventh seed is that they will be underdogs in their final four games. They opened their game on Sunday in a 6-7 win against the Saints as underdogs with a six-point lead. Two meetings with the 10-3 Eagles and a game against a 6-7 Rams team that is on the rise allow the Giants to get the wins they need and secure an unlikely playoff spot.
GO DEEPER
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The Giants would need to overtake five teams with six wins in the final four weeks to clinch the final playoff spot. It will be a tall order to make up that ground while falling foul of the Eagles twice while other teams in the mix instead face doormats like the Cardinals and Panthers.
On the other hand, the Giants are currently projected to have the eighth pick in the draft. They are one of six teams with a 5-8 record currently occupying spots 5-10 in the draft order. Either way, there is still a lot at stake in the last four weeks.
(Photo: Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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