Tommy DeVito suffers concussion, Lamar Jackson throws five TD passes as Giants fall to 2-12
Tommy DeVito of the Giants looks on against the Baltimore Ravens at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Mike Stobe
There wasn’t much to say in the Giants’ locker room in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s 35-14 loss to the Ravens at MetLife Stadium, a defeat that produced some more negative history.
The Giants (2-12) are the first team in franchise history to be 0-8 at home. Their nine-game losing streak tied a franchise record set in 1976, 2003-04 and 2019.
Meanwhile, visiting Ravens fans chanted "M-V-P!'' at Lamar Jackson after he threw five touchdown passes to four different receivers.
“There really wasn’t too much talking after this game,” Giants linebacker Brian Burns said. “Probably get a better feel on Monday . . . I think right now everybody’s just processing. Ain’t really too much talking.''
The Giants temporarily own the NFL’s worst record, pending the 2-11 Raiders’ game against the Falcons on Monday night. The Ravens are 9-5.
The Giants' path toward becoming the worst team in franchise history took another downturn with starting quarterback Tommy DeVito exiting with a concussion. DeVito was ruled out at halftime after heading to the locker room before the final play of the first half.
He was hit hard on a roughing-the-passer penalty drawn by Nnamdi Madubuike late in the second quarter but stayed in the game and later was hit on consecutive plays. His final play was a handoff to Devin Singletary, who finished that drive with a 2-yard touchdown run that cut the Giants' deficit to 14-7.
“I don’t know if it was the penalty or after that,” coach Brian Daboll said. “It was just that he came off, talked to him a little bit and then right before we were going to go out there for that two-minute drive, I went over to him and I talked about a particular play.
“I kind of saw his eyes. I asked the trainer to come over, take a look at him, and they [did], and so it was right after that touchdown series that we drove down.”
Tim Boyle, signed from the practice squad last week, entered to take a knee to close out the half, then started the second half as the fourth Giants quarterback to take snaps in a game this season.
Boyle threw the Giants’ first touchdown pass since Nov. 3, a 23-yarder to Malik Nabers with 6:36 remaining. It was Nabers' first touchdown reception since Week 3 and made it 35-14.
However, some Giants fans missed it. An already sparse crowd got thinner with 10:46 remaining when fans left for the exits. The cause? Jackson’s final touchdown pass to a wide-open Justice Hill, who raced away untouched for a 27-yard score.
Jackson, who also threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Devontez Walker, finished 21-for-25 for 290 yards and rushed for 65 yards on six carries. He had a passer rating of 154.6. The Giants held Derrick Henry to 67 yards on 14 carries, but Jackson showed why he’s the reigning MVP by leading five consecutive scoring drives.
According to the NFL, Jackson is the first player with five TD passes, at least 50 rushing yards and a completion percentage of at least 80 in a regular-season game.
“He’s difficult to defend every week, against any team he plays,” Daboll said. “He’s a dynamic player. There’s a reason why he’s a two-time MVP and he’s really good.”
Boyle, who never took first-team reps in a Giants practice, finished 12-for-24 for 123 yards with an interception. DeVito was 10-for-13 for 68 yards. The Giants gained only 236 yards to the Ravens’ 445.
“I prepared all week knowing that there was a chance for me to go play in this game and I had to go play well,” said Boyle, on his sixth team in six seasons. “The moment when it came, there was no heart pounding, there was no dry mouth, I just went out there and played ball and got in the huddle.''
Nabers had 10 catches for 82 yards, his third game with double-digit receptions. He also drew three penalties from the Ravens, including two for pass interference. With 90 catches this season, Nabers is one shy of tying the team record for receptions by a rookie held by Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley.
After Hill returned the opening kickoff 59 yards, Jackson completed a 10-yard pass to Zay Flowers and ran 15 yards to the Giants' 12, but Adoree' Jackson stripped the ball and recovered the fumble.
Later in the quarter, on second-and-goal from the 3, Jackson was sacked by Burns for a 10-yard loss. He then hit Mark Andrews for a 13-yard touchdown pass that gave Baltimore the lead for good.
In the second quarter, Jackson rolled right and found an open Rashod Bateman downfield after Bateman lost Jason Pinnock on his route. Pinnock caught up to Bateman, who juked by him and Greg Stroman Jr. before walking in to complete a 49-yard touchdown catch and give the Ravens a 14-0 lead. Bateman also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds left before halftime to make it 21-7.
With three games left, the Giants are running out of things to play for. Each week gets them closer to the No. 1 overall pick, the prize for a floundering season.
The players, of course, don’t see it that way, but that’s where they are.
“At the end of the day, I look on the brighter side of things, the opportunity [for younger guys] to show what they can do,” Burns said. “It’s gonna be growing pains with guys that haven’t had a lot of experience, but Lamar is one of the best. He played a clean game.”
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.
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