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Editor’s note: Recap all the Monday Night Football action between the Titans and Dolphins with USA TODAY Sports’ coverage.
The Green Bay Packers saw their three-game winning streak slip away Monday night and, in the process, witnessed their margin for error in the NFC playoff race virtually evaporate.
Randy Bullock’s 37-yard field goal as time expired gave the New York Giants a 24-22 victory, their third in a row with rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito.
The Pack’s loss also clinched a playoff spot for the San Francisco 49ers, the NFC leaders the first club to officially sew up a berth. Green Bay retained the conference’s third and final wild-card spot but are now tied with the Rams, Seahawks, Falcons and Saints — all five teams with 6-7 records.
Rookie Malik Heath’s 6-yard TD catch — the first of his career — with 1:33 to play seemed to signal an escape for the Packers, but they left DeVito too much time. The undrafted third-stringer drove New York 57 yards in eight plays to set up Bullock’s game-winner. A 32-yard pass to Wan’Dale Robinson was the key play in the Giants’ game-ending sprint. DeVito, who finished with 158 yards and a TD through the air, posted a passer rating of at least 100.0 for the third consecutive week.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
The Packers, who entered Week 14 with the league’s easiest remaining schedule (based on opponents’ winning percentages), turned the ball over three times in defeat — head coach Matt LaFleur’s first ever in December after 16 consecutive wins. They next draw the surging and NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. — Nate Davis
Winners and losers from Giants’ win over Packers
WINNERS
Tommy DeVito impresses in win: DeVito performed liked the best quarterback on the field. He managed the game, and most importantly, didn’t turn the football over. DeVito made some clutch throws that he’ll be able to build upon in his development as a quarterback. His 8-yard touchdown pass on the run might’ve been the best throw of his young career.
The rookie completed 17-of-21 passes, for 158 yards and had a touchdown. He also contributed with 71 rushing yards.
Saquon Barkley scores twice: Barkley lost a costly fumble, but that was his only bad play. Barkley ignited New York’s offense and was arguably the best player on the field. He tallied 23 touches, 101 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the win.
The Giants might want to give Barkley a long-term extension this offseason.
Giants finally win on Monday night: The Giants (5-8) haven’t had a lot to cheer about this season, but they can go home happy after Week 14. The Giants snapped an eight-game losing streak on “Monday Night Football.”
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Deonte Banks: Thibodeaux flashed multiple times in the New York win. The Giants edge rusher had eight tackles, 0.5 sacks, one pass deflection and a forced fumble.
Thibodeaux has 11.5 sacks this season.
Banks was solid in coverage. The rookie cornerback out of Maryland had a game-high 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass deflection.
San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers (10-3) are the first team to clinch a postseason berth as a result of Monday night. San Francisco currently holds the No.1 seed in the NFC.
LOSERS
Packers defense: The Giants came into Week 14 with the worst offense in the NFL, averaging 258 yards per game. Tommy DeVito and company gashed Green Bay for 367 total yards. The Giants rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, the Packers defense gave up the game-winning drive that ended in a 37-yard field goal as time expired.
DeVito looked like a serviceable starting quarterback against Green Bay’s defense.
Jordan Love up-and-down in loss: The Packers quarterback had eight touchdowns and no turnovers during Green Bay’s three-game winning streak. Love’s hot streak came to a screeching halt on Monday night. Love had an up-and-down performance. He lost a fumble and threw an ill-advised pass that resulted in an interception in the second quarter.
Love did conduct a potential game-winning touchdown drive with multiple nice throws late in the fourth quarter, but the Giants offense went down the field on their next possession.
Love finished 25-of-39 passing for 218 yards, to go with one touchdown and one interception.
Shockingly, Love was outplayed by the Giants’ Tommy DeVito. — Tyler Dragon
Giants-Packers highlights
Tommy DeVito threw a 32-yard pass to Wan’Dale Robinson to set up Randy Bullock’s 37-yard field goal as time expired, and the Giants defeated Green Bay, 24-22, on Monday night to hand the Packers their first December loss since Matt LaFleur took over as coach in 2019.
Giants 24, Packers 22: What can’t Tommy DeVito do?
The undrafted rookie and the Giants got the ball back trailing 22-21 and with 93 seconds on the clock. DeVito completed five passes on the drive and the Giants drove 57 yards – 32 coming on a completion to Wandale Robinson down the right sideline. The Packers burned their timeouts, and the Giants called one with two seconds left on the clock.
Kicker Randy Bullock — who missed from 48 yards out wide right earlier in the game — drilled a game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired to give the Giants a victory that kept their season on life support and severely impacted the Packers’ playoff hopes at the same time. — Chris Bumbaca
Packers 22, Giants 21: Malik Heath puts Green Bay ahead late
Jordan Love led the Packers on nine-play, 36-yard touchdown drive in just over two minutes to give Green Bay a 22-21 advantage with 1:33 left in the game.
Packers wide receiver Malik Heath made an incredible catch along the sideline and extended the football across to goal line for a 6-yard touchdown. — Tyler Dragon
Giants 21, Packers 16: Anders Carlson connects this time
The Packers offense has no problem moving the ball into New York territory. The problem is when they get there.
At least this time, Anders Carlson made a 48-yard field goal to put some points on the board and make it 21-16 with 5:30 to go in the game. Green Bay is 1-for-4 in the red zone.
The Packers got a stroke of fortune when Saquon Barkley fumbled following his second long run in a row — the Giants running back tried to stay in bounds but the ball came loose when he dove forward and was not touched down. Green Bay returned the ball 50 yards to the New York 36, and the Packers were in business with a chance to win the game by the time the two-minute warning rolled around. — Chris Bumbaca
Packers miss 45-yard field goal attempt
Green Bay’s promising drive ended with no points.
The Packers got inside New York’s 20-yard line, but their 12-play drive ended with two terrible plays.
On third-and-11, Jordan Love was sacked by Dexter Lawrence and Azeez Ojulari for a loss of 11 yards. Then on fourth-and-18, kicker Anders Carlson missed a 45-yard field goal wide left.
The Packers still trail 21-13 with 10:42 left in the fourth quarter. — Tyler Dragon
Leaders of the Pack
Green Bay has drafted two quarterbacks in Round 1 of the draft this century. With a win tonight, Jordan Love will make the duo 2-0 at MetLife Stadium this year. The other, of course, is Aaron Rodgers — who was credited with the win in Week 1 for the New York Jets despite suffering an Achilles tear on his fourth snap in his first game with Gang Green. — Nate Davis
Giants up, thanks to ‘Tommy Cutlets’
The third quarter turned into the “Tommy Cutlets” show in north Jersey. New York scored two touchdowns to go up 21-13 by the end of the frame and outgained 119-39. DeVito was a perfect 5-for-5, including a touchdown pass to Isaiah Hodgins. He’s also up to 71 rushing yards on 10 attempts. The Packers had only two first downs in the frame, and Keisean Nixon muffed a punt that set up the Giants’ first touchdown of the quarter – a 1-yard rush by Saquon Barkley, his second score of the game.
New York avoided a disaster when one of their own players accidentally touched the ball on the Packers’ punt on their next possession, which set them up in the red zone. But the Giants’ defense stood tall once again and Green Bay settled for a field goal. — Chris Bumbaca
Giants 21, Packers 13: Tommy DeVito hits Isaiah Hodgins for TD
Tommy DeVito might’ve just had the best throw of his young career.
DeVito scrambled out right and delivered an 8-yard strike to the back of the end zone to wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins. Hodgins made a nice grab and got both feet down for the completion.
The touchdown capped off a 10-play, 75-yard drive for New York.
DeVito completed four passes during the drive. He’s currently 12-of-15 passing and has 99 yards, plus a TD. — Tyler Dragon
Giants 14, Packers 13: Another muffed punt leads to field goal
The Packers are within a point of the Giants after scoring a field goal in the third quarter.
On third-and-10 from New York’s 14-yard line, quarterback Jordan Love tossed the ball to Jayden Reed in the right corner of the end zone. Reed was double covered by Jason Pinnock and Deonte Banks and looked around left and right to find the ball as it sailed over his head and landed behind him.
Anders Carlson kicked the 32-yard field goal to make the score 14-13 Giants.
Green Bay got possession after New York committed a turnover on a Packers punt. The ball sailed and hit Giants safety Bobby McCain on the shoulder and the Packers recovered it. — Victoria Hernandez
Giants 14, Packers 10: New York capitalizes on muffed punt
Ball don’t lie?
The Giants were livid the refs didn’t throw a flag when Tommy DeVito gave himself up and slid on the first play of the second half. Except Packers defensive back Keisean Nixon popped DeVito, and the stripes kept the laundry in their pockets.
When New York had to punt, and Nixon was back deep ready to return, they got their revenge. Nixon couldn’t handle Jamie Gillan’s punt and the Giants recovered in Packers territory. Two plays later, DeVito took off for a 26-yard gain all the way down to the Green Bay 1-yard line, and Saquon Barkley punched in his second touchdown of the game to give the Giants a 14-10 lead. — Chris Bumbaca
Packers clinging to three-point lead at half
After not having a single turnover during the Packers’ three-game winning streak, Jordan Love coughed the football up twice in what was a rough first half for the quarterback.
Love lost a fumble and threw an interception on back-to-back drives in the second quarter.
Despite losing the turnover battle 2-0 in the first half, the Packers have a 10-7 halftime lead.
Love completed 13-of-20 passes for 116 yards.
Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed has 34 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. He leads seven Packers players with at least one reception.
The Giants defense had a solid half.
Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux tallied three tackles, one forced fumble and a pass deflection. Safety Jason Pinnock has the game’s only interception.
The lone New York touchdown came on a 5-yard run by Saquon Barkley. The Giants aren’t getting much production through the air. Tommy DeVito has just 48 passing yards at halftime. — Tyler Dragon
Packers 10, Giants 7: Anders Carlson puts Green Bay ahead before halftime
The Packers scored late in the second quarter to retake the lead against the Giants.
Anders Carlson hit a 36-yard field goal to cap off an 11-play, 38 yard drive.
Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott was called for pass interference on a passing play that gave Green Bay a 27-yard boost. Patrick Taylor had a 14-yard run, but the Packers offense couldn’t get much else going after a pass from Jordan Love to Romeo Doubs was ruled complete but then reversed. — Victoria Hernandez
Jordan Love throws interception, commits second turnover
Jordan Love committed his second turnover of the game on Monday night when he threw an interception.
On second-and-seven, Love aired the ball out downfield toward Dontayvion Wicks, who was covered by Cor’Dale Flott. Jason Pinnock stepped in front of the throw and nabbed the interception, his second of the year.
Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur thought Flott pushed Wicks during the play and was barking at the referees for not calling defensive pass interference.
On the previous drive, Love lost a fumble. — Victoria Hernandez
Packers stuff Saquon Barkley on fourth down
The Giants handed the football to their best player on fourth-and-1 and couldn’t convert.
The Packers defensive line got a good push upfront and Giants running back Saquon Barkley couldn’t find a running lane as he was tackled by linebackers Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson for no gain at New York’s 49-yard line.
The Giants are currently 0-1 on fourth down and 1-4 on third downs. — Tyler Dragon
Jordan Love loses fumble for Packers
The Packers committed the first turnover of the game midway through the second quarter.
On third-and-2, quarterback Jordan Love attempted to run for the first down. He was wrapped up by Giants safety Jason Pinnock and as he was falling, Kayvon Thibodeaux pushed the quarterback over and the ball fell out of his possession. Giants safety Xavier McKinney picked up the ball and was immediately brought down by Packers tight end Tucker Kraft
The referees initially ruled that Love was down by contact, but the Giants challenged the play and got the turnover.
Per the ESPN broadcast, this is the Packers’ first turnover in their last 32 drives. — Victoria Hernandez
Giants 7, Packers 7: Saquon Barkley evens the score
Put your fingers on your thumb and throw the hand in the air like you just don’t care.
The Giants marched 75 yards down the field in eight plays to even the proceedings early in the second quarter. Saquon Barkley scored on a handoff from 5 yards out, but he was the one taking the snap one play earlier that was the big play of the drive. Barkley gave it to speedy wideout Wan’Dale Robinson who darted 32 yards to the Green Bay 5-yard line to set up the score.
Tommy Devito, the origin of the Italian-centric celebration seen across MetLife Stadium, connected with Isiah Hodgins for 14 yards and had a scramble for 10 yards and a first down earlier in the possession. — Chris Bumbaca
Packers have touchdown lead after first quarter
The Green Bay Packers lead the New York Giants 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Packers are outpacing the Giants 86 yards of offense to 28. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love is 6-of-9 for 57 yards. For New York, both Saquon Barkley and quarterback Tommy DeVito have 11 yards rushing.
The lone score of the game came toward the end of the period when Jordan Love handed the ball to wide receiver Jayden Reed, who scampered to his right along the sideline and trotted into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown.
The previous possession, Giants kicker Randy Bullock missed a 48-yard field goal. — Victoria Hernandez
Packers 7, Giants 0: Jayden Reed gets Green Bay on the board
The Packers finally reached the end zone after punts on their first two drives.
Green Bay’s seven-play, 62-yard drive was highlighted by running back AJ Dillon had a 35-yard reception, and two plays later rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed took a jet sweep 16 yards to the house for the Packers touchdown.
Reed now has two rushing touchdowns this season. — Tyler Dragon
Giants fail to take advantage of great field position
The Giants and Packers are still scoreless.
The Giants started with the football on Green Bay’s 32-yard line and were unable to come away with any points. New York was only able to manage two yards in four plays. To make matters worse, Giants kicker Randy Bullock sailed a 48-yard field goal wide right at the end of New York’s second series. — Tyler Dragon
Crime time?
Specifically, it’s a crime this is the Giants’ fifth (and final) appearance in prime time this season. The G-Men, who will fall into a last-place tie with Washington in the NFC East with a defeat tonight, lost their first four appearances under the lights this season by an average of 21 points. But if you just can’t get enough of Big Blue, you can catch New York again on Christmas afternoon (Monday, Dec. 25), when they head to Philadelphia to play the Eagles. — Nate Davis
Is Tommy DeVito related to Danny DeVito?
New York Giants rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito is in a unique set of circumstances for an NFL quarterback. And it’s not just because he’s was an undrafted free agent. Despite being elevated to the Giants’ active roster after starting the season on the practice squad, DeVito still lives at home with his parents.
DeVito shares a last name with “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor Danny DeVito, and Tommy’s hometown of Livingston, N.J. is a one hour drive from where Danny grew up in Neptune Township, N.J. Despite those facts, there is no evidence that the two are related. — Jack McKessy
December to remember?
The Packers haven’t lost a game in December since the 2018 season, when Joe Philbin was their interim head coach after replacing fired — you guessed it — Mike McCarthy. Current boss Matt LaFleur’s 16-0 record in the month is the best mark in NFL history for a HC. — Nate Davis
Love is in the air
Packers QB Jordan Love has four games with at least three touchdown passes, the second most in the NFL. Love has eight touchdowns and no picks during Green Bay’s three-game winning streak. — Tyler Dragon
Giants wearing throwback uniforms against Packers
Monday night is one of the New York Giants’ “Legacy Games” where the team is wearing their throwback uniforms at MetLife Stadium. The uniforms feature the blue color the team wore in the 1980s and 1990s and a bold red stripe on the helmet, down the side of the pants and on jersey details.
The throwback uniforms have a bit of good juju. The Giants also wore them in a Week 7 win over the Washington Commanders. They donned the jerseys twice last year — in a win over the Chicago Bears and in a tie against the Commanders. — Victoria Hernandez
Diehard Packers fan Lil Wayne is hyped for MNF game vs. Giants
Rapper Lil Wayne is loving the Green Bay Packers in 2023.
And if you didn’t know by how much he’s been featured during Packers games this season, the legendary rapper is one of the team’s biggest celebrity fans. The longtime Packers supporter tweeted out a “Go Pack Go!!!!” chant, the team’s rallying cry ahead of Green Bay’s “Monday Night Football” game against the Giants. — Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Packers elevate RB Kenyan Drake ahead of MNF
The Packers are hoping to give their run game a boost. They elevated running back Kenyan Drake from the practice squad on Monday ahead of their primetime matchup.
The eight-year veteran signed with the team on Tuesday after being released by the Baltimore Ravens in October. The Packers are without Aaron Jones, who is recovering from a knee injury and AJ Dillon has been limited with a groin injury
Drake was a third-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2016 after playing college ball at Alabama. His best season in the NFL was in 2020 with the Arizona Cardinals when he had 239 carries for 955 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. — Victoria Hernandez
What time does Packers vs. Giants start?
Kickoff for the Packers-Giants game is 8:15 p.m. ET from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
How can I watch Packers vs. Giants?
Packers-Giants will air on ABC, with streaming available on ESPN+. Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (analyst) will call the game, with Lisa Salters reporting from the sidelines.
Packers vs. Giants inactives: Aaron Jones, Christian Watson out for Green Bay
Packers Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder) will miss his fifth straight game. Linebacker Quay Walker (shoulder) had been listed as doubtful for Monday night’s game, but is out.
Packers’ inactive players:
- LB Quay Walker
- WR Christian Watson
- CB Jaire Alexander
- CB Kyu Blu Kelly
- RB Aaron Jones
- OT Caleb Jones
Giants’ inactive players:
- WR Parris Campbell
- RB Jashuan Corbin
- S Gervarrius Owens
- LB Boogie Basham
- OT Evan Neal
Why are there two MNF games being played at the same time?
A new scheduling wrinkle for the 2023 NFL season included two “Monday Night Football” games being played simultaneously.
This first-ever simultaneous kickoffs MNF presentation is being done so that “ESPN and the NFL transform a Sunday afternoon environment into a primetime window,” per ESPN.
This is the third time this season that there are multiple “Monday Night Football” games on the same night. It had previously occurred during Week 2 and Week 3, with kickoff times staggered. — Jim Reineking
The ManningCast for Week 14 figures to the most manic yet.
For “Monday Night Football,” Peyton Manning and Eli Manning will juggle two games on their alternate ESPN2 telecast.
“When situations dictate, Peyton and Eli will divert attention to a single game,” per ESPN.
Comedian Nate Bargatze, former NFL offensive linemen Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins are the ManningCast guests for the Packers vs. Giants–Titans vs. Dolphins simulcast. — Josh Peter
Packers at Giants: Predictions, picks and odds
The Packers are favorites to defeat the Giants, according to BetMGM NFL odds.
- Spread: Packers (-5.5)
- Moneyline: Packers (-250); Giants (+200)
- Over/under: 37
USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Packers 26, Giants 12 — Green Bay has turned its season around and coach Matt LaFleur is 16-0 all-time in December games. And while the Giants have won two in a row, they were against the Commanders and Patriots.
- Tyler Dragon: Packers 27, Giants 16 — Jordan Love has played the best football of his career in the past three games. Green Bay’s three-game winning streak came against the Chargers, Lions and Chiefs. Now the Packers play a struggling Giants squad with Tommy DeVito under center. It’s a safe bet the Packers will win their fourth in a row.
- Safid Deen: Packers 24, Giants 17 — Jordan Love is playing the best football of his young career, and the Packers are turning a corner in their rebuild around him. Green Bay should have enough to beat Tommy DeVito and the Giants.
- Victoria Hernandez: Packers 24, Giants 10 — The Packers made a huge statement by beating the Chiefs last week as Jordan Love seems to be improving in confidence and Jonathan Owens is breaking out as more than Simone Biles’ husband. The Giants are putting their trust in rookie Tommy DeVito and just don’t have enough tools to overtake Green Bay’s momentum.
- Jordan Mendoza: Packers 21, Giants 13 — Things are looking good in Green Bay with three straight wins, and with a favorable schedule it looks like a playoff spot could be in the future. The defense was able to contain Patrick Mahomes last week, which spells trouble for Tommy DeVito as the Giants suffer another primetime loss.
Playoff implications for ‘Monday Night Football’
A win by the Dolphins tonight moves them back into first place overall in the AFC, though Week 17’s visit to Baltimore could be decisive. Miami will remain the second seed with a loss.
Though a win is obviously preferable, the Packers will remain the NFC’s seventh seed regardless of tonight’s outcome. However if Green Bay loses, the San Francisco 49ers will become the first team in 2023 to clinch a playoff berth. — Nate Davis
Packers vs. Giants ‘Monday Night Football’ betting tips
Highlighting Monday Night Football odds, the Green Bay Packers are among the best bets for NFL Week 14 as road underdogs. The Packers are favored by 5.5 points over the New York Giants, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2023.
There is also significant betting attention around the Miami Dolphins’ primetime game against the Tennessee Titans. According to the top NFL betting apps, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (+800) has some of the best NFL MVP betting odds in 2023. The Dolphins (+650) are among teams with the best Super Bowl betting odds.
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds, Sunday Night Football odds and more.
If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with these online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. — Richard Morin
While the Chiefs embarrassed themselves with a meltdown after an offsides penalty, there’s a new balance of power in the NFC.
Here is USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes’ full rundown of the biggest winners and losers from Week 14.
The NFC was thrown into delightful upheaval Sunday night, the Cowboys spanking the reigning conference champion Eagles. The victory moved “America’s Team” into first place in the NFC East and dropped Philly to the fifth seed. — Nate Davis
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