Giants Q&A: Why did Brian Daboll change quarterbacks? Who will start in the final two weeks of the season?
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) reacts after their loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 25, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) Credit: AP/Chris Szagola
Why did Brian Daboll make the quarterback change from Tommy DeVito to Tyrod Taylor at halftime?
He said he was looking for a “spark.”
While it didn’t result in a win, the Giants did manage to score 22 of their 25 points in the second half (including a 76-yard pick-6 by Adoree’ Jackson) and had nearly twice as many yards (101 in the first half, 191 in the second).
DeVito was sacked just once and had no turnovers, but the most glaring mistake he made was not checking out of a fourth-and-1 play late in the second quarter.
The Eagles shifted their defensive alignment and the Giants ran the play as called rather than modifying their blocking, which left tight end Daniel Bellinger and wide receiver Darius Slayton each lined up on Haason Reddick. Neither made anything close to a block on the star linebacker, who sliced in and tackled Saquon Barkley for a loss of 4.
Daboll didn’t point to that play specifically, but a more seasoned quarterback such as Taylor clearly would have had a better shot at recognizing the situation and adjusting.
How did DeVito take the benching?
Pretty well.
“I understand it’s a business,” the rookie said. “We weren’t scoring enough points, so the change was made. That was that . . . They’re always trying to find someone to replace you, whatever it is.”
His teammates were as impressed with his disposition after this game as they were when he quickly rose to fame earlier this month.
“I didn’t see him duck his head or tuck his tail,” Barkley said. “He took it like a man. It is what it is.”
Who will start at quarterback Sunday against the Rams at MetLife Stadium?
Daboll wasn’t ready to answer that one just yet.
“We’ll talk about that here this week,” he said.
What happened on the delay- of-game penalty against Bobby Okereke at the end of the first half?
Jalen Hurts cut away from the sideline on a 9-yard run even though the Eagles had no timeouts left and the clock was ticking through single digits. Okereke made the tackle and then wrestled on the ground with Hurts, not only to get the ball out (he has four forced fumbles this season) but to allow those precious seconds to tick away.
Eventually, the officials decided that Okereke was too invested in the latter part of that process and flagged him. That stopped the clock and allowed the Eagles to kick a short field goal as time expired in the half to go ahead 20-3.
And then at the end of the second half? Was there another time issue with precious seconds?
Taylor hit Darren Waller on a 20-yard pass to the Eagles’ 26, but Waller was hurt on the play. He tried to get off the field (an injury would have necessitated a run-off). The official nearest him picked up the ball, and instead of bringing it to the middle of the field for a speedy spot, he just stood there. Barkley wound up sprinting to the official, then running with the ball to the umpire so it could be set and spiked with four seconds remaining. The Giants were irate about the lack of urgency from the officials. Had they gotten the ball spotted sooner, they might have been able to run two or even three plays in an attempt to score the potential tying touchdown rather than the one they were afforded.
How did Mason Crosby do in his Giants debut?
The former Packers great became the fourth player to kick a field goal for the Giants this season when he made a 52-yarder in the first quarter. Signed to the practice squad on Friday, the 39-year-old made his only field-goal attempt and converted both extra points.
What draft slot are the Giants in entering Week 17?
They currently hold the fifth spot and sit behind Carolina (2-13), Arizona (3-12), Washington (4-11) and New England (4-11). The Titans (5-10) and Chargers (5-10) are neck-and-neck with the Giants (5-10).
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
