They are saying that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.
On Sunday, the New York Giants lastly put collectively 60 minutes of strong soccer and received a recreation for the primary time in almost three months, 45-33, over the Indianapolis Colts.
For at some point, at the very least, they did nearly the whole lot proper. They received the turnover battle (3-0), ran again a kickoff for a landing for the primary time in 155 video games, didn’t permit a sack, and scored six touchdowns on offense.
Quarterback Drew Lock accounted for 5 of these scores (4 passing, one dashing) in recording a 155.3 QB ranking within the recreation — the very best by a Giants’ quarterback in seven years. He threw for 309 yards, the very best complete for a Giants’ quarterback this season.
Not like most of their current performances on offense this season, the Giants had been unusually environment friendly, going 7-for-13 on third down, 2-for-3 within the crimson zone, and 2-for-2 in goal-to-go conditions.
The Giants, who’ve been devoid of huge performs all season, exploded for probably the most factors in a recreation at dwelling since 2012. They’d six performs of over 30 yards highlighted by Malik Nabers’ 59-yard landing catch.
After the sport, head coach Brian Daboll was requested concerning the emergence of “explosive” performs within the recreation.
“There was a pair selection. We threw a pair go (routes) to Malik on ‘examine with me’s’ with guys we wished to assault. We speak about run-after-catch on a regular basis and we’ve got good run-after-catch gamers. It’s about ball placement. It’s about studying. It’s about getting it to them on time. It’s concerning the safety component,” he stated. “Drew performed… This was his fourth recreation he began. Clearly, he had three begins that weren’t nice. However did a superb job through the week of being centered. I give Shea Tierney a ton of credit score, working with him. He did an awesome job with him. Identical to he did (Tommy) DeVito final yr.
“(Lock) performed nicely right this moment. However different individuals performed nicely. I had him break them down and that’s the very first thing he stated. I stated, ‘Hey, nice recreation.’ However he stated, ‘Hey, there’s 10 guys round me on offense and 11 on protection.’”
What about Ihmir Smith-Marsette?
“What an awesome return to start out out within the second half. I don’t assume he was touched, nice blocking. That’s what it must seem like, although,” Daboll stated. “It’s essential to win the turnover ratio. You want good quarterback play. It’s essential to take the ball away. You want run after catch. You want explosive performs. You want good tackling. There’s no secret to this league. For those who do all these issues, you’ve an opportunity. It doesn’t assure you something.”
For at some point, all of it got here collectively. It was pricey for the Giants massive picture-wise as they fell right down to No. 4 within the 2025 NFL draft order, however that must take a backseat right this moment.
The win chased away loads of the ghosts and melancholy that had been permeating the constructing the previous few months.
Having the primary choose within the draft doesn’t all the time assure success, anyway. Since 2000, solely 4 gamers taken first total have Tremendous Bowl rings: David Carr, Eli Manning (2), Matthew Stafford, and Eric Fisher.
Solely Fisher received his ring with the staff that drafted him.
