With 1:33 remaining in the game on Monday night, the New York Giants were trailing the Green Bay Packers by a score of 22-21.
Jordan Love had just hit wide receiver Malik Heath for the go-ahead score, but Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke stepped up to stuff the two-point conversion attempt.
All the Giants and rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito had to do was protect the football and position themselves for a game-winning field goal.
So, what advice did head coach Brian Daboll give DeVito as they took the field for that final drive?
“Here’s a couple plays we like, and go out there and rip that son of a (expletive),” Daboll recalled telling his quarterback. “Pretty simple.”
And it did seem simple. DeVito completed all four of his passes for 53 yards on the drive, including a back-breaking 32-yard pass to WR Wan’Dale Robinson. A few more Saquon Barkley runs and the rest is history.
Kicker Randy Bullock connected from 37 yards out, and the celebration was on. DeVito became the first Giants quarterback to win a prime-time game since Eli Manning.
“It’s his job,” Daboll said of DeVito. “Third game of over a hundred quarterback rating. He made good decisions, took care of the ball, used him in the run game. Just keep developing him. He’s improving. Still got stuff to work on, but like I said two or three times last week, I think he’s a young player that’s doing the right things and making the most of his opportunity. He earned the right to play today, and he earned the right to play the next week. The kid’s done a good job.”
When DeVito lines up under center next week in New Orleans, the rookie may have a chance to thrust the Giants back into a tie for the final NFC wild-card spot.
Who saw all this coming?
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