NY Giants vs. New England Patriots: Live updates, in-game analysis – NorthJersey.com
EAST RUTHERFORD – In an alternate NFL universe, Tommy DeVito would be competing with Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe to see who would start at quarterback for the New England Patriots against the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.
Instead of celebrating a homecoming, DeVito will make his first start at MetLife Stadium as the Giants’ quarterback after making the last two on the road because he trusted his gut and stayed home. The last time DeVito started a game that counted at MetLife was as a high school junior at Don Bosco against St. Joseph in the State championship, which the Ironmen won.
Back in August, when the Giants waived DeVito, they wanted to sign him the next day to the practice squad, the anticipated step in his developmental plan as an undrafted rookie quarterback.
There was a wrinkle in that, however: the Patriots had coached DeVito in the Shrine Game in Las Vegas on the walk-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, and they extended a practice squad invite to compete with Zappe as the No. 2 quarterback behind Jones, and then they’d see what happens.
DeVito believed in his immediate future with the Giants, and even though he was behind Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor with no clear path to playing time, he re-signed with Big Blue and stayed.
The rest is history and now DeVito has made history, becoming the first Giants quarterback since 1950 to throw for five touchdowns in his first two starts.
So as Bill Belichick opts for gamesmanship with his refusal to announce a starting QB against the Giants, promising that Jones and Zappe must be ready, DeVito continues to settle into a job he never thought would be his.
Jones is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair the ACL in his right knee this week. Taylor will be eligible to return to the active roster following Sunday’s game; he’s been on injured reserve due to cracked ribs suffered against the Jets back on Oct. 29, the injury that opened the door for DeVito.
Belichick’s career record against rookie quarterbacks (22-6) creates a daunting challenge for DeVito and the Giants, who are seeking their first two-game winning streak of the season.
“It’s a challenge I look forward to,” DeVito said. “At the end of the day, I’m going to continue to do what I do and prepare and continue to just try to lead this team and lead this offense and not think too much about it.What you see is what you get [with Belichick and the Patriots’ coaching staff]. The way he acts, he’s always, like, even if there’s a touchdown when you see him on TV and he’s just standing there just looking, no emotion, it’s kind of how he is, or that’s how he was at least for that one week. I don’t really know him besides that. But yeah, he’s an awesome coach.”
Dexter Lawrence, Darius Slayton doubtful
Dexter Lawrence missed practice all week with a hamstring injury he suffered in last Sunday’s game and he’s unlikely to play against the Patriots. It’s a big loss for the Giants, obviously. Lawrence has been dominating whichever player lined up opposite him.
If Lawrence does not play, it will mark the first game of his career that he misses due to injury. He was forced to miss a game due to COVID protocols and did not play in Week 17 last year when the Giants rested most of their starters against the Eagles.
Slayton was a limited participant on Friday, but he’ll likely miss this one with the Giants set to go on their bye.
