They say that even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then.
On Sunday, the New York Giants finally put together 60 minutes of solid football and won a game for the first time in nearly three months, 45-33, over the Indianapolis Colts.
For one day, at least, they did almost everything right. They won the turnover battle (3-0), ran back a kickoff for a touchdown for the first time in 155 games, did not allow a sack, and scored six touchdowns on offense.
Quarterback Drew Lock accounted for five of those scores (four passing, one rushing) in recording a 155.3 QB rating in the game — the highest by a Giants’ quarterback in seven years. He threw for 309 yards, the highest total for a Giants’ quarterback this season.
Unlike most of their recent performances on offense this season, the Giants were unusually efficient, going 7-for-13 on third down, 2-for-3 in the red zone, and 2-for-2 in goal-to-go situations.
The Giants, who have been devoid of big plays all season, exploded for the most points in a game at home since 2012. They had six plays of over 30 yards highlighted by Malik Nabers’ 59-yard touchdown catch.
After the game, head coach Brian Daboll was asked about the emergence of “explosive” plays in the game.
“There was a couple variety. We threw a couple go (routes) to Malik on ‘check with me’s’ with guys we wanted to attack. We talk about run-after-catch all the time and we have good run-after-catch players. It’s about ball placement. It’s about reading. It’s about getting it to them on time. It’s about the protection element,” he said. “Drew played… This was his fourth game he started. Obviously, he had three starts that weren’t great. But did a good job during the week of being focused. I give Shea Tierney a ton of credit, working with him. He did a great job with him. Just like he did (Tommy) DeVito last year.
“(Lock) played well today. But other people played well. I had him break them down and that’s the first thing he said. I said, ‘Hey, great game.’ But he said, ‘Hey, there’s 10 guys around me on offense and 11 on defense.’”
What about Ihmir Smith-Marsette?
“What a great return to start out in the second half. I don’t think he was touched, great blocking. That’s what it needs to look like, though,” Daboll said. “You need to win the turnover ratio. You need good quarterback play. You need to take the ball away. You need run after catch. You need explosive plays. You need good tackling. There’s no secret to this league. If you do all those things, you have a chance. It doesn’t guarantee you anything.”
For one day, it all came together. It was costly for the Giants big picture-wise as they fell down to No. 4 in the 2025 NFL draft order, but that will have to take a backseat today.
The win chased away a lot of the ghosts and depression that had been permeating the building the past few months.
Having the first pick in the draft doesn’t always guarantee success, anyway. Since 2000, only four players taken first overall have Super Bowl rings: David Carr, Eli Manning (2), Matthew Stafford, and Eric Fisher.
Only Fisher won his ring with the team that drafted him.
