EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — With Tommy DeVito still dealing with a sore forearm, Drew Lock will make his second straight start at quarterback for the Giants when New York plays host to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Coach Brian Daboll announced the decision on Wednesday, saying Lock showed some good things against Dallas in a loss on Thanksgiving and he will get all the snaps with the first team.
“I think the reps help a ton," Lock said Wednesday. ”I’d say anybody in this position would say the same thing. Getting back out there, letting them hear your cadence, letting them hear you calling it in the huddle, rhythm and timing with the receivers, even rhythm and timing for me with my feet on certain plays, whatever we’ve got up this week, it helps tremendously."
Lock was 21 of 32 for 178 yards and an interception that was returned for a touchdown against Dallas. "He ran for a career-high 57 yards, scoring on an 8-yard run and setting up Tyrone Tracy’s short TD run with a 28-yard scramble.
DeVito was hurt in his first start after replacing Daniel Jones for the game against Tampa Bay on Nov. 24. He missed the Dallas game and was limited at practice Wednesday. Daboll said it remains to be seen whether he can be the backup Sunday at MetLife Stadium, where the Giants (2-10) are winless in six home games.
If he can't go, the recently signed Tim Boyle would be the backup against the Saints (4-8).
The Giants have had three different starters at quarterback in the past three games.
“It’s professional football,” said Lock, who started against Dallas without any practice because of the short turnaround before that game.
“You expect roller coasters here and there. But, just excited to be able to go out and play one more time and get to practice with these guys, let them feel my energy a little bit.”
Lock, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason, was Jones' backup for the first 10 games. When Daboll benched Jones after a 2-8 start, he jumped DeVito ahead of Lock because the New Jersey product sparked the team to a three-game winning streak with Jones and then backup Tyrod Taylor hurt last season.
DeVito hurt his right foreman late in a 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers, and Lock got his chance.
New York is dealing with several injuries this week. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (elbow) and rookie tight end Theo Johnson (foot surgery) were placed on injured reserve on Monday. Defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck/shoulder), left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quad), right tackle Evan Neal (hip), inside linebacker Bobby Okereke (back) and cornerback Deonte Banks (rib) are all considered week to week.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) leaps over New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) and linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Carl Lawson (55) sacks New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) celebrates after running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) scored a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — After weeks of shaky play, the San Francisco 49ers got back to their old form with one of the most dominant first halves in years.
Brock Purdy threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns and the 49ers bounced back from two blowout losses to beat Chicago 38-13 on Sunday and spoil interim coach Thomas Brown's debut for the Bears.
“We just got back to being us, honestly,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “The product we were putting on the field the last couple weeks just wasn’t us. We knew that. We had a great opportunity this week to come out at home and right those wrongs and get back to playing our style and what we do best.”
The 49ers (6-7) had been outscored by 53 points the past two weeks in losses at Green Bay and Buffalo that left their playoff hopes teetering with several stars such as Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa and Trent Williams sidelined by injuries.
That prompted coach Kyle Shanahan to have Purdy and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir address the team at a meeting Saturday night that resonated with the team.
“The message was we need to play with more of a sense of urgency and play desperate,” tight end George Kittle said. “Because you just hadn't really sensed that.”
But San Francisco delivered a performance more reminiscent of a year ago when the Niners went to the Super Bowl, handing the Bears (4-9) their seventh straight loss after outgaining them by 315 yards on the way to a 24-0 halftime lead.
Purdy delivered his third 300-yard passing game of the season with two TDs to Jauan Jennings, fill-in back Isaac Guerendo gained 128 yards from scrimmage and scored on two TD runs and Kittle had six catches for 151 yards. That helped deliver the highest-scoring game of the season for the 49ers.
“I think we just all executed, did our job and kept it simple,” Purdy said. “I think guys weren’t overthinking anything. Just whatever was called we trusted in Kyle and executed.”
The defense did the rest with strong pressure from the four-man line that led to rookie Caleb Williams getting sacked seven times.
The Bears were looking for an emotional boost from the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history after letting Matt Eberflus go following a late-game clock mismanagement on Thanksgiving at Detroit.
Instead they came up on the short end of one of the most lopsided first halves in recent memory. Chicago was outgained 319-4 in the first half for the ninth-largest discrepancy since 1991, managed only one first down and trailed by 24 points at the break.
The Bears allowed Purdy and the San Francisco offense to move down the field with little resistance with the Niners scoring three TDs and one field goal on their first five possessions.
Chicago couldn't move the ball at all on offense, generating minus-3 yards passing thanks to four sacks and losing 37 yards on five failed third down attempts.
“We got our (butt) kicked today,” Williams said. “There’s no way around it. We got it handed to us. Offense, defense special teams, we have to come out and be better."
Williams managed to throw two touchdown passes to Rome Odunze in the second half, but it was too late to get the Bears back into the game. Williams finished 17 for 34 for 134 yards and lost a fumble, but had his seventh straight start without an interception.
Williams’ 56 sacks this season are the most for any Chicago quarterback since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
Bears: Returner DeAndre Carter (hamstring) left in the first quarter and didn't return. ... RB Travis Homer (head) left the game in the second half.
49ers: Guerendo left the game in the fourth quarter with a foot injury. Shanahan said the team would know more about the severity on Monday. ... LG Ben Bartch (high ankle sprain) left the game in the first half and didn't return. Bartch was starting in place of the injured Aaron Banks and the Niners were forced to use third-stringer Spencer Burford the rest of the way.
Bears: Visit Minnesota on Monday night.
49ers: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) gestures after a reception against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) dives for the end zone to score past Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens (36) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (31) scores against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (31) runs against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rolls out to pass against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)