With 309 passing yards, 4 landing throws, and a dashing landing Drew Lock on Sunday performed probably the most prolific recreation by a New York Giants quarterback since Daniel Jones threw 5 landing passes in a 2019 Week 16 victory over Washington.
The consequence was that the Giants blew previous not solely the 30-point barrier for the primary time this season, however scored 45 factors, their most since that aforementioned 2019 recreation during which they beat Washington in additional time, 41-35. Sunday’s output towards the Indianapolis Colts was probably the most factors the Giants have scored since a 52-49 loss to the New Orleans Saints in a traditional 2015 assembly between Eli Manning and Drew Brees.
Was Sunday’s recreation proof of idea that each one the 3-13 Giants want is the best quarterback to deliver a couple of dramatic turnaround? Might their very own C.J. Stroud or Jayden Daniels be all of the Giants have to develop into a profitable staff?
GM Joe Schoen mentioned on the bye week, when the Giants have been 2-8 and getting ready to maneuver on from Daniel Jones, that the Giants have been “not far off” from being a superb staff. That would have been interpreted as Schoen saying the best quarterback would go a good distance towards serving to the staff make a major leap in 2025.
Was that the GM pre-emptively pitching to maintain his job and have the prospect to seek out that quarterback this offseason? Possibly.
We are going to know in a number of days if Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll will stay of their jobs previous Sunday’s season finale towards the Philadelphia Eagles.
After watching Lock’s efficiency on Sunday, Daboll spent plenty of time targeted on the affect of excellent quarterback play. Time that is also interpreted as Daboll pitching for an opportunity to maintain his job and work with a quarterback he helps to decide on subsequent season.
“That’s how the offense needs to perform. That’s how the quarterback needs to perform,” was Daboll’s first quarterback reference. It got here in his opening remarks, and there have been others.
There was:
“I think if you get good quarterback play, you have an opportunity in every game.”
After which one which was all-encompassing, however included the quarterback:
“That’s what it needs to look like, though. You need to win the turnover ratio. You need good quarterback play. You need to take the ball away. You need run after catch. You need explosive plays. You need good tackling. There’s no secret to this league. If you do all those things, you have a chance.”
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Pictures and Picture by Andy Lyons/Getty Pictures
Is it actually as easy for the Giants as get the best quarterback, and so they magically develop into a contender? They develop into the Texans with Stroud, the Commanders with Daniels, the Minnesota Vikings with the immediately very good Sam Darnold? The Miami Dolphins when Tua Tagovailoa is wholesome?
Properly, no. There are plenty of different issues to repair and inquiries to reply.
They clearly want extra assistance on the line of defense.
They want a No. 1 cornerback. In addition they want to determine if Deonte Banks is a participant they’ll work with.
With Jason Pinnock headed to free company, they most likely need assistance at security.
Sticking to the defensive aspect of the ball, they should resolve if Shane Bowen was the best rent as defensive coordinator. In the event that they consider he’s, they should get him extra gamers who match what he needs to do.
They should construct the offensive line depth. Specifically, they should get some younger gamers into the pipeline.
With Darius Slayton possible headed to free company and Jalin Hyatt not assembly expectations, they want extra at broad receiver.
Extra essential that any of that, although, is getting the quarterback place proper. I actually consider the Giants, earlier than the rash of accidents to important gamers, had a roster that ought to have gained greater than three video games at this level. I do consider quarterback play held the Giants again in lots of winnable video games this season.
Quarterback is crucial place in soccer, most likely crucial and most troublesome place to play in all of sports activities.
If you get it proper, different issues are likely to fall into place. If you get it fallacious, that tends to carry you again, regardless of how a lot you get proper throughout the remainder of the roster.
I do assume it’s honest to consider that Schoen and Daboll are pitching the concept they’ll flip the Giants round in the event that they get the best quarterback. Possibly they’ll. Possibly they’ll’t. Possibly they gained’t even get the chance.
In the event that they do get to stay round for 2025, the way in which the Jones period ended and never drafting a quarterback final season means they’ve backed themselves right into a nook and have virtually no alternative however to take a quarterback this time — whether or not it’s a nice quarterback class or not.
“I love evaluating quarterbacks,” Daboll mentioned final offseason. “I love meeting with the quarterbacks. It’s an awesome position to work with and it’s a really fun position to evaluate.”
Can he and Schoen get it proper? In the event that they get the prospect, they higher.