Giants lose 10th straight as Drew Lock throws two pick-6s vs. Falcons
Giants quarterback Drew Lock is sacked by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie in the first half of an NFL game in Atlanta on Sunday. Credit: AP/Mike Stewart
ATLANTA — Mercedes-Benz Stadium set a Christmas mood, sprinkling in Christmas songs among the stadium’s playlist. The Giants did their part as guests giving gifts.
Drew Lock gave Atlanta two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. The defense gave Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. time to throw and get comfortable in his first NFL start.
With their 34-7 loss to the Falcons on Sunday, the Giants have lost 10 games in a row for the first time in franchise history. At 2-13, they have tied the club record for most losses in a season.
It’s not gold, frankincense and myrrh, but the presents the Giants gave the Falcons reminded their fans that a savior could come next spring.
With the Raiders’ 19-14 win over the Jaguars on Sunday, at least for the time being, the Giants moved ahead of Las Vegas for the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft. But that’s no consolation prize for a team struggling in a way that no team had in the 100-year history of the franchise.
“Disappointing,” rookie receiver Malik Nabers said.
“It’s not good enough,” coach Brian Daboll said. “That’s my responsibility and you do everything you can do each week. Obviously not good enough.”
Nabers had seven receptions for 68 yards on Sunday. His second catch broke the Giants’ rookie receptions record of 91 set by Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014 and matched by Saquon Barkley in 2018.
But Nabers, who has 97 receptions for 969 yards this season, couldn’t redeem another poor showing by the Giants’ offense.
“Kudos to me, but didn’t win,” he said. “There’s some people that’s gonna say ‘he did all the things that he did,’ but it was on a losing team. It’s a pat on my back, but I’m trying to win. The ultimate goal is to win. Celebrate all that after.”
Lock’s three turnovers helped the Falcons (8-7) score 34 unanswered points and marred his return as the starting quarterback after being sidelined last week with an injury.
Lock’s second pick-6 came on the second play of the third quarter. Zach Harrison blew by right tackle Evan Neal, who fell down while attempting a cut block, and deflected a pass into the arms of Matthew Judon, who ran 27 yards to the end zone.
“It was my responsibility to cut the defensive end who was rushing,” Neal said. “I threw a cut. It didn’t look that good. I just threw the cut . . . I probably could have thrown a better cut.”
The Falcons led 24-7 at that point, and after the Giants went three-and-out on their next series, Penix led a 69-yard scoring drive capped by Bijan Robinson’s 2-yard touchdown run.
Penix, drafted two spots behind Nabers last spring, went 18-for-27 for 202 yards and threw an interception that wasn’t his fault. He fired a pass to tight end Kyle Pitts at the 3-yard line, but Pitts bobbled the ball and it sailed into the hands of Cor’Dale Flott for a pick in the end zone.
Penix’s poise stood in stark contrast with Lock’s mistakes.
Lock’s first interception came in the second quarter. He had Wan’Dale Robinson open but threw it to him late, allowing safety Jessie Bates III to step in front of the pass and race 55 yards for a touchdown.
Lock, who finished 22-for-39 for 210 yards, also fumbled on a strip sack by Kaden Elliss. It negated any positivity from his 2-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Tracy Jr. that opened the scoring and gave the Giants a rare lead.
“Broken play, tried to get Malik over,” Lock said. “Thought we could maybe try to get a snap before the clock ran out . . . Wan’Dale was my shortest route. Tried to get the ball to him before the safety could cut it. He got it. Can’t make a bad play worse.”
The Giants finished with only 234 yards of offense. Ten penalties made things worse, including a hold by Robinson to take away Tracy’s touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“I think they just controlled the game,” Daboll said of the Falcons. “When we came out, it was 17-7 at half. We give up the touchdown, it was 24-7 early on. They were able to control the game.”
Linebacker Micah McFadden didn’t play in the second half because of a neck injury. Fellow linebacker Darius Muasau had 11 tackles.
Flott was one of three defensive backs who returned from injury along with Deonte Banks and Dru Phillips. It wasn’t enough to stop the Falcons or slow down Bijan Robinson, who had 22 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
Banks also had a pass-interference penalty on third down to aid an 86-yard scoring drive capped by Robinson’s 4-yard touchdown run.
With two games left, there’s little the Giants can celebrate. A loss next Sunday against the Colts would leave them winless at home for the first time since 1974. They also would become the first NFL team to go 0-9 at home in a single season.
The Giants also are averaging 14.3 points, on pace for the fewest in team history in a season of at least 16 games. All that’s left is to save face or play for next season, and linebacker Brian Burns expects the Giants to fight despite another deflating defeat.
“We ain’t expecting anybody to come save us, so it’s on us,” he said. “Either you gonna fight or lay down.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
