Drew Lock throws two pick-sixes vs. Falcons as Giants lose 10th straight
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, but not anyone good ones.
Drew Lock gave the Falcons two interceptions returned for touchdowns. The defense gave Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. time to throw and get comfortable in his first NFL start.
The final gift from the 34-7 defeat Sunday was the Giants serving more bad history. They’ve lost 10 games in a row to set a franchise record and at 2-13, they’ve tied another record for most losses in a season.
It’s not gold, frankincense and myrrh but those presents reminded a savior might come next spring. The Giants stayed on track for the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft but that’s no consolation to a team struggling like no team has in the 100-year history of the franchise.
“Disappointing,” receiver Malik Nabers said.
“It’s not good enough,” coach Brian Daboll added. That’s my responsibility and you do everything you can do each week. Obviously not good enough.”
Nabers had seven catches for 68 yards Sunday. His second catch broke the Giants’ record for receptions as a rookie, 91 set by Odell Beckham Jr and Saquon Barkley.
But Nabers, who has 97 catches for 969 yards this season, couldn’t redeem another poor showing by his offense. Lock’s three turnovers fueled the Falcons (8-7) to 34 unanswered points and marred his return as starting quarterback after being injured last week.
His second pick-6 came on the second play of the third quarter. Zach Harrison blew by right tackle Evan Neal, who fell down trying to block, and deflected a pass to Matthew Judon, who ran 15 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. After the Giants went three-and-out on their next series, Penix led a 69-yard scoring drive capped by Bijan Robinson scoring from two yards out.
Penix, drafted two spots behind the Giants taking Nabers last spring, had an interception to Cor’Dale Flott, aided by tight end Kyle Pitts bobbling a sure catch. But Penix’s poise and efficiency stood in stark contrast to 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 gave the Giants a rare lead, 7-0, over the last two months.
“Broken play, tried to get Malik over,” said Lock. "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 just 234 yards. Ten penalties made things worse, including a hold by Robinson to take away a Tracy touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Robinson also had seven catches for 62 yards. Rookie linebacker Darius Muasau had 11 tackles but fellow linebacker Micah McFadden didn’t play in the second half due to a neck injury.
Meanwhile, Penix finished 18-of-27 for 202 yards with no touchdowns. It also showed the Giants what they were missing not finding a capable alternative to Daniel Jones before and after releasing the former first round pick this season.
“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.”
Flott was one of three defensive backs returning 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 a pass interference penalty on third down to aid a Falcons’ 86-yard scoring drive, capped by Robinson’s four-yard touchdown.
Penix’s success won’t make the Giants regret taking Nabers. He’s proved himself a capable No. 1 receiver yet the loss put him in no mood celebrate his latest record.
“Kudos to me but didn’t win,” Nabers 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.”
With two games left, there’s little the Giants can celebrate. A loss next Sunday against the Colts leaves m winless at home for the first time since 1974 and the first NFL team to go 0-9 at home.
They’re also averaging 14.3 points, on pace for the fewest in team history in a 16-game minimum season. All that’s left is 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,” Burns 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.
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