Giants' Drew Lock has historic performance in win over Colts
Drew Lock of the Giants throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
After Drew Lock’s three turnovers a week earlier in Atlanta, Giants coach Brian Daboll chewed him out but good. Lock threw two pick-6s against the Falcons and looked shell-shocked.
But instead of the boos he heard during his last start at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 8, a 14-11 loss to the Saints, Lock heard cheers during the Giants’ 45-33 win over the Colts on Sunday.
Lock threw for four touchdowns and ran for one in his first start this season without a turnover.
It had been a long time since Giants fans saw a quarterback play like this. And based on last week’s game, this kind of performance seemed nearly impossible. Nevertheless, Lock responded to Daboll’s frustration by playing one of his best games as a professional.
“You can shell up or you can take it like a man,” said Lock, who completed 17 of 23 passes for 309 yards and had a 155.3 rating. “I’ve always been the one that kind of gets me going. I need a little bit of that. We had good conversations. He expects a lot from me, as I do myself. I can at least appreciate that.”
According to the NFL, Lock became the fifth player in league history to throw for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns, run for a score and have a passer rating above 155. The others? Drew Brees, Josh Allen, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Aaron Rodgers.
Lock didn’t seem likely to be joining that kind of company after throwing four interceptions in three previous starts. In those outings, he threw more touchdowns to opposing defenders (three) than to his teammates (one).
That changed in the first half, when he went 7-for-8 for 153 yards with three touchdown passes to three different receivers — Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson. He also had a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
“To have a game like that and bounce back when things weren’t great and I’m yelling at him and things like that,” Daboll said. “Again, I got a lot of respect for Drew. I know he knows that, but I’m proud of the way he competed and how [he] came out and played.”
It was vindication for Lock, who has earned his share of criticism this season. Daboll was quick to praise him on Sunday and so were his teammates, who were happy that their growing chemistry with Lock paid off with a win.
“That’s a guy who has taken the brunt of it,” left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. “It’s hard to play quarterback in New York, especially with all the media and fans and the attention you get. For him to go out there and do his thing and be who he is, it’s important.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
