Brian Daboll’s Shocking Take on Giants’ Victory Over Colts

The New York Giants finally snapped their franchise-worst 10-game losing streak with a dominant 45-33 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The game marked a turning point for the team, as they received strong quarterback play—something that had been sorely missing throughout the season.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll was quick to praise his quarterback’s performance after the game. “That’s how the offense needs to perform. That’s how the quarterback needs to perform,” Daboll said in a post-game interview. “So, when you do that and you win the turnover ratio, you have a chance to score points and win.”

Drew Lock’s Career Day

Drew Lock had a standout performance, throwing a career-high four touchdown passes and accumulating 309 yards, finishing with a passer rating of 155.3. He also added a rushing touchdown, becoming only the third player in Giants history to achieve four or more passing touchdowns and one or more rushing touchdowns in a single game. He joined Eli Manning and Charlie Conerly in that exclusive club.

“If you get good quarterback play, you have an opportunity in every game,” Daboll said. “If you don’t turn the football over and you make critical plays at critical times… I think we were good on third down, I think we were good in the red zone. Drew made good decisions, we had a lot of alerts. That’s the start of it, and then you have to play good complementary football.”

Lock’s performance was a far cry from his earlier struggles. In his previous three starts in 2024, he had posted a 1-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In Week 16, he threw two pick-sixes in a blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Despite those past challenges, Daboll stuck with Lock as the starting quarterback, and the decision paid off.

A Fiery Coach and a Confident Quarterback

Lock acknowledged the fiery nature of his coach, saying that Daboll’s tough-love approach motivated him. “Yeah, Dabs is fiery. But at the same time… I’ve jumped before. I’ve been yelled at. I’ve been around that. I’m used to that. Kind of gets me going. You can shell up or you can take it like a man. I’ve always been the one that kind of gets me going,” Lock explained. “We had good conversations. He expects a lot from me, as I do myself. I can at least appreciate that. If things go bad and you don’t have someone yelling at you, the classic, there should be some concern. But that is the exact opposite of Dabs. He cares about his guys. He cares about me, expects the world from me. We went out there and did that today.”

The chemistry between Lock and Daboll seemed to fuel the quarterback’s confidence on the field, leading to one of the most impressive games of his career.

Strong Play from Receivers

Lock wasn’t the only standout player in the win. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers was a force to be reckoned with, hauling in seven catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. An impressive 105 of those yards came after the catch, highlighting his ability to turn short throws into big gains. Nabers’ performance also set him apart as one of the top rookies in recent seasons. He joined Ja’Marr Chase (Week 17, 2021) and Justin Jefferson (Week 6, 2020) as the only rookies in the past five seasons to surpass 150 receiving yards and score two or more touchdowns in a single game.

Nabers’ breakout game was crucial in putting the Colts on the back foot, as his ability to make plays after the catch provided Lock with more opportunities to shine.

Looking Ahead

With the victory over the Colts, the Giants have now moved from the top spot in the 2024 NFL Draft order to No. 4, heading into their Week 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Depending on how the Eagles approach their game, with the possibility of resting starters, the Giants could have a shot at securing a win to close out the season on a positive note.

This victory, fueled by strong quarterback play, crucial decisions, and a standout performance from Nabers, serves as a reminder of the importance of complementary football. As Daboll said, when the quarterback plays well, the team has a chance to win every game. Now, with momentum on their side, the Giants will look to carry this energy into the final week of the season and beyond.