NY Giants 31, Washington Commanders 19: Tommy DeVito slings it, leads Big Blue to victory
LANDOVER, Md. — The New York Giants were accused of tanking for the 2024 NFL Draft by many when the decision was made to start Tommy DeVito at quarterback for the second straight week.
The confident undrafted rookie with "Jersey swag" carved up Washington and helped the Giants snap their three-game losing streak instead.
DeVito fired three touchdown passes, two to Saquon Barkley, who finished with 139 yards of total offense as the Giants completed a season sweep of the NFC East rival Commanders with a convincing 31-19 victory at FedEx Field.
The Giants (3-8) had to sweat this one out in the end until Isaiah Simmons intercepted Sam Howell's pass and returned it 54 yards for a game-sealing score.
DeVito is an NFL long shot who has gained national notoriety, mostly because he still lives with his parents in his childhood home of Cedar Grove, which is a 15-minute commute from the Giants' facility and MetLife Stadium, where the former Don Bosco star won a New Jersey high school State championship.
So when Giants coach Brian Daboll insisted DeVito gave Big Blue its best chance to win, some accused the franchise of opting for a less experienced quarterback - veteran Matt Barkley is also on the roster - in order to better their chances at losing.
DeVito wound up completing 18-of-26 passes for 246 yards and those three touchdowns, good for a quarterback rating of 137.7. The Giants forced four turnovers and put forth an inspired effort against Washington with Kayvon Thibodeaux leading the way with two sacks, giving him 10.5 on the season.
The Giants entered in the hunt for the No. 1 overall pick, projected for No. 2 coming into the game. There are still six games to be played and a lot to be decided, but for one afternoon, Daboll's team finally got off the canvas and delivered a winning performance.
Giants take the lead at the half
Slingin' Tommy DeVito is having a game.
The Giants played their most complete first half in a while, again behind a defensive performance that held Sam Howell relatively in check and the right arm of Tommy DeVito.
DeVito completed 14-of-19 passes over the first two quarters, including scoring strikes to Saquon Barkley and Darius Slayton. His dart to Barkley on a route that was more go than a wheel came after he threw behind Wan'Dale Robinson, who was open on a crosser. DeVito pumped and fired, finding Barkley between two defenders, and the Giants' running back did the rest, hauling in a fully-extended grab for a 24-yard score.
It was the first touchdown for the Giants in the first quarter all season.
DeVito was at it again in the second quarter, and the Giants capitalized on a great play design that freed Slayton up for a catch-and-run. Three Washington defenders went with Isaiah Hodgins, who broke downfield on the right side, which allowed Slayton to come across underneath uncovered. DeVito hit him in stride when Slayton did, and then he did the rest, racing to the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown.
The Giants had four pass plays of at least 20 yards in the first half, taking just their second double-digit lead of the season.
Saquon not looking to shut it down
Earlier this week, Barkley scoffed at the suggestion that, with the Giants at the bottom of the standings and staring at a challenging final seven games, he might consider shutting it down for the season.
Barkley is still hurting from the high ankle sprain that kept him out of action for three games earlier this year, and with defenses now squarely focused on stopping No. 26, especially with DeVito making his second straight start, to say it's going to be rough sledding is an understatement.
“I just focus on going out there, try my best to make no excuses, try to compete and play at a high level for my team no matter the circumstance,” Barkley said. “I’ve been injured enough. So, if I’m able to, for the love of the game, go play and be able to protect myself and compete for my team, that’s something I’ll always try to do.”
Despite their 14-7 victory over the Commanders on Oct. 22, the Giants opened as 10-point underdogs in the rematch. The spread went down to 8.5 points prior to kickoff, but with Howell and the Commanders tearing things up offensively in the weeks since they were shut down by the Giants, it was going to be a challenge for DeVito and the passing attack to keep up.
That was supposed to put even more of a burden on Barkley, but he and DeVito had other ideas.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants vs. Washington Commanders: Live updates, in-game analysis
