The New York Giants opened the 2023 season with a 2-8 record and an offense that was as bad as any the team has had in its 99-year existence.
Since then, they’ve perked up behind their two backup quarterbacks and began both winning games and scoring more points.
This Sunday afternoon, the 5-10 Giants host the surging Los Angeles Rams (8-7) at MetLife Stadium in a game that is meaningless to them but very important to the Rams.
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has been under fire all season for the team’s lousy showing but, considering what he’d been given to work with, has managed to make lemonade out of lemons, as they say.
On Thursday, Kafka spoke about the team’s decision to roll with veteran Tyrod Taylor over rookie Tommy DeVito as the starting quarterback. Last week, in Philadelphia, Taylor relieved DeVito after a poor first-half showing and the offense made a game of it in the second half.
“I think Tyrod did a great job just stepping up,” said Kafka. “He made some big plays, he did some nice things with the football, with his legs. I was not shocked. I think he’s a guy that’s going to prep and do it the right way and he did a nice job stepping in for us.”
Kafka was asked if the game plan changes depending on who is under center.
“I think there’s differences, you’re going to build the gameplan around each player’s strengths. Whether it’s quarterback, running back, receivers, O-line, you want to build the best game plan you can around the guys (and) what they do best,” he said.
And what, exactly, does Taylor do best?
“He’s been in the league for 13 years; I think it’s a lot that he does,” Kafka said. “Not just on the field but as a leader, as a good teammate. I think Tyrod does a hell of a job, in the huddle, getting guys organized so there’s a lot of things that he does just outside of playing the quarterback position that makes him special.”
Oddsmakers also like the Giants more with Taylor under center. The line opened this week at Rams -6.5 points. After head coach Brian Daboll named Taylor the starter, the line dropped down to 4.5.
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