Tank who?
The Giants had the No. 1 overall pick, but they didn’t win a home game all year. Drew Lock was the starting quarterback for a club averaging just 14.3 points per game.
But none of that mattered Sunday afternoon, as New York eliminated Indianapolis from postseason contention with a 45-33 victory.
It was arguably the Giants’ best performance of the season and a career day for Lock, who had four touchdowns (four throwing, one rushing) and five touchdowns. He finished the day 17-of-23 for 309 yards with no turnovers and a good passer rating of 155.3. Rookie receiver Malik Nabors also set a new single-game record in his young career with seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
The Giants took the lead with 1:05 left in the first quarter when Lock hit Nabors for a 31-yard touchdown, and they never looked back. The Colts had a chance to tie the score early in the fourth quarter when Joe Flacco completed a 13-yard pass to Alec Pierce, but the two-point conversion failed.
Nabors scored a 59-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive. Drew Lock then ended the game with a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter.
New York also had a 100-yard touchdown return on a second-half kickoff.
The Giants scored 45 or more points for the first time since November 1, 2015.
For the Colts, it was an embarrassing defensive performance for a club with a chance to make the postseason.
Joe Flacco started in place of Anthony Richardson and committed three turnovers, had two interceptions and one lost fumble. He completed 26 of 38 for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Jonathan Taylor had 32 carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns, but missed a potentially game-winning two-point conversion.
The Giants failed to achieve three takeaways in a game all year.
With this win, New York is no longer in a position to lock up the No. 1 overall pick with just one more loss in Week 18. If they lose next Sunday, the Patriots will lock up the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. The Giants will face the Eagles in Week 18.
Indianapolis was eliminated from postseason contention with Sunday’s ugly loss. It helped the Bengals and Dolphins. The club will conclude its 2024 season at home against the Jaguars next weekend.
