The New York Giants were in dire need of a boost during their 28-3 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The offense struggled to find direction, big plays were absent, and another disappointing home loss seemed inevitable. Head coach Brian Daboll’s only move was to replace quarterback Daniel Jones with Drew Lock, temporarily benching his starter in hopes of revitalizing the offense.
It turns out that Lock was not a spark, and no fire ignited. New York remained directionless after the benching, but it indicated that changes at quarterback could be on the horizon and that Daboll was open to making them. If Jones can be benched in Week 7, might he face the same fate earlier in Week 9 or even be sidelined altogether in Week 10? These are questions for a Giants team that’s struggling to find its way. For now, New York is left dealing with yet another setback
Lock shared his thoughts on the opportunity after the game. “When you’re a backup and the game approaches the fourth quarter, you kind of anticipate that a change might happen,” Lock said. “You never want to assume, but it’s important to be prepared. Then he told me, ‘You’re going in, try to spark something.’ Of course, you hope it doesn’t come to that, but I was excited to get back out there.
The last time I played, it didn’t go well, so it felt good to shake off the nerves and play football.” Lock’s role was clear: provide a boost, but it wasn’t an easy task. The offensive line struggled all afternoon, leading to Jones being sacked seven times, and instead of orchestrating the offense, Lock was primarily expected to just throw the ball.
Lock averaged 8.9 air yards per attempt, 2.5 yards more than Jones. He wrapped up his day with a 13-yard scramble, completing three of eight passes for six yards, along with a sack. “I’m clearly trying to meet the expectations of my teammates and play well for them, but I’m also focused on living up to my own standards,” Lock said. “No matter the situation, it’s challenging; it is what it is. That’s what I signed up for. I hope this is the last time I find myself in this kind of situation, where we can go out and make some plays. It just is what it is. You have to try to throw the ball around when you’re in that position.” For those considering a quarterback switch, Lock’s performance on Sunday probably shouldn’t be heavily weighed. He was placed in a tough spot and would likely have a different experience if he started from the beginning
New York may eventually have to rely on Lock. The defense can only handle so much, and the offensive support group deserves better. However, the fact that there’s a discussion about the quarterback situation indicates that things are not going smoothly, leaving the backup feeling for Jones.
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