Explore More
If the Giants had Tyrod Taylor as their backup quarterback two years ago, it’s possible Joe Judge might still be their head coach.
Giants fans likely have purged the memory from their respective souls, but it was after then-backup Mike Glennon went 4 of 11 for 24 yards, throwing two interceptions and losing two fumbles in a 29-3 Week 16 loss to an awful Bears team in Chicago when Judge finally broke and went on that ill-advised postgame rant blaming the personnel he was dealt that eventually got him fired.
Starter Daniel Jones was KO’d for the season after 11 games and Glennon and Jake Fromm combined to go 0-6.
Fromm, before Glennon started in Chicago, completed 12 of 29 passes for 107 yards combined in the previous two games.
It was an exercise in how a team can sabotage its entire season without a reliable backup quarterback.
It’s too early in 2023 to tell whether Tyrod Taylor, an unflappable 34-year-old 13-year NFL veteran, will or can save this season for the Giants while filling in for Jones, who’s missed the past two games with another neck injury, but he saved the day Sunday with a strong performance in a 14-7 Giants win over Washington at MetLife Stadium.
A loss to the Commanders would have rendered the Giants irrelevant the rest of the season at 1-6.
Instead, thanks in large part to Taylor’s 18 of 29 for 279 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers, they’re 2-5 and have a pulse entering Sunday’s home game against the resurgent 3-3 Jets.
“That’s Tyrod,’’ running back Saquon Barkley said. “He’s smooth. Even keel. Always stays in the moment. He’s a pro’s pro. I’m happy for him. He comes in every day and works his tail off. He’s a great vet, a great leader.’’
The words “smooth’’ and “leader’’ are commonplace when coming from Taylor’s teammates.
“He’s the ultimate pro, does things the right way and when his number’s called he goes out there and performs,’’ left tackle Justin Pugh said.
“He was calm,’’ tight end Darren Waller, the recipient of Taylor’s first TD pass, said. “He just brings a calm presence to the huddle and guys feed off that. I love the way he just commands things.’’
Taylor’s command of head coach Brian Daboll’s offense the past two games — he performed well in a 14-9 loss last week in Buffalo, completing 24 of 36 for 200 yards but fell short in the red zone (0 for 5) — has raised some conversation that the offense looks better with him running it than Jones.
That chatter will grow louder this week.
When Daboll was asked after the game if Taylor’s play was making any “argument’’ for him remaining the starter, the head coach predictably deferred, saying. “I would just say Tyrod had a good game this game and he’s a true pro and I’m glad we’ve got him.’’
For his part, Taylor didn’t bite when asked if he’d like to remain the starter this week, saying, “That’s up to coach. Obviously, if DJ is healthy, he’s a captain on our team, a leader on the offense and I am here to support in any way that I can.’’
Handled and spoken like the classy pro Taylor is.
Asked if he hopes to get another chance as a full-time starter before the end of his career, Taylor said, “I am firm believer in God’s timing is perfect timing. I can’t focus on the future or the past. I am a big believer in just staying in the present moment and taking advantage of what’s here.’’
He did that on Sunday and for that, the Giants get to live another day of relevance.
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3R7kGlma2pfnLaiutOsZJ2tk6B6ta3LpGSonl2mr26vzqerq6emmr%2B0xYyana2domLBur7OnWStmamhvLN50qGgp52jZA%3D%3D