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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — There is no argument. The New York Giants are now Tommy DeVito’s team down the stretch after he added a last-minute, game-winning drive to his resume in a 24-22 decision over the Green Bay Packers last night. on Monday at MetLife Stadium.
The undrafted rookie went 4-for-4 passing for 53 yards as the Giants drove 57 yards on seven plays in the final 1:33 to set up the Randy Bullock’s 37-yard field goal as time expired. It just adds to the story that is unlikely to happen.
“You like it when it ends up like this, right?” DeVito said. “I mean, I love being on the field any game, any game, try to enjoy it.
The Giants (5-8) are just one game behind five teams for the NFC wild-card spot, including the Packers (6-7). This was after a bad 2-7 start before turning to DeVito due to injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor.
New York is in this position because DeVito has won three of his four starts, including three straight. He became just the third undrafted regular season running back to win three of his first four starts, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He joins Washington’s Ed Rubbert (1987) and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Devlin Hodges (2019).
DeVito has it all going, even after a strong second-half effort on Monday.
“I think as a quarterback you have to stay even on top of everything. You know, because when you win like we are right now, everything is high, but when you lose, everything is low ,” DeVito said. “That’s why, as a quarterback, you have to stay in spite of everything. So, I’m proud of that. It’s something I grew up with, obviously over time. , from when I was playing since I was 5 years old. In high school and college, that part of my game just continued to grow.”
There is no question now that the Giants and DeVito will last next week on the road against the New Orleans Saints with Taylor now healthy. Coach Brian Daboll did not commit to that admission Monday night.
DeVito’s clutch performance was a no-brainer.
“We earned the right to play (Monday), and we earned the right to play next week,” Daboll said. “Good job kid.”
DeVito went 17-of-21 passing for 158 yards and a touchdown without an interception against the Packers. He also ran for 71 yards on 10 carries and completed 11 of his 12 passes in the second half, but the only incomplete was a punt.
It continues to surprise and inspire.
“That was one hell of a rivalry,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.
The freshman has caught seven touchdown passes and only one interception in his four starts.
But the need to drive down the field for the winning field goal in the final seconds is something he hasn’t done in the NFL.
Not that the Giants worried about nerves being a deterrent.
“We don’t have to worry about that. He keeps his cool,” Daboll said. “There’s really nothing (to say). It’s a couple of sports that we love and go out and rip a b—-‘s son. Simple as that.”
DeVito was confident that everything, including his starting position, was on the line.
“We won the game,” he said to his friends before the final drive. “It’s on us. It’s on the offense.”
DeVito hit Wan’Dale Robinson, Saquon Barkley and Darius Slayton on the first three plays of the winning streak.
He then found Robinson on a play to right that was the same call that DeVito missed earlier in the contest, when the ball was dropped.
But this time, DeVito hit Robinson in the stride. The second-year wide receiver turned it over for 32 yards that put the Giants clear at the goal line.
“Calm, calm, calm, composed, use what the defense gives him,” Barkley said of DeVito on that drive. last.
The Giants and their team seem to be feeding off DeVito’s energy. His trademark exciting fingertip presence was on the field and in the Giants’ locker room. These days are all taking place in the New York metropolitan area.
The Giants are back with their quarterback who is now the starter. They are joined behind DeVito, who played together at Syracuse and Illinois.
“That’s rare for a freshman quarterback. With the confidence and swagger he’s playing with, you can feel it through the field, you can feel it in the backfield,” said Barkley, who rushed for a pair of touchdowns against Green Bay. “Thank you we were able to get the win”.
Despite all that, DeVito’s story continues to unfold. The local legend who won the state championship at Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey and famously still lives at home with his parents, has won over a fan base that first look at this as a lost season.
This is DeVito mania. His family was seen several times on national television. His representative, Sean Stellato, father, Tom, and brother, Max, also appeared during the television broadcast kissing each other on the cheek in celebration after the fall.
The entire DeVito crew has become family.
“It’s good for business,” the quarterback said.
Like winning games.