The New York Giants were on a bye last week, but that didn’t stop them from making headlines. Coming into Week 12, the Giants announced that they’re benching starting quarterback Daniel Jones, the same quarterback that signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension last March. Since then, Jones has started 16 games and has a miserable 3-13 record to show for it.
Enter Tommy DeVito.
DeVito, a fan favorite in New York, will step in as the starting quarterback this week as the Giants host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team hopes this change will ignite the spark that has been missing all season. While DeVito has certainly energized the fanbase, the betting market tells a more cautious story.
When rumors of a quarterback switch surfaced, the line moved from Tampa Bay -3.5 to -5. After the announcement of DeVito’s promotion, the spread climbed further to -5.5, where it currently stands. The Giants’ moneyline also shifted, increasing from +185 to +195, showing the market’s skepticism about their chances.
Despite the doubts, DeVito has shown flashes of competence. Last season, when he stepped in for Jones as a rookie, he played nine games and started six, winning three of his first four starts before closing the season with two losses. Under DeVito, the Giants beat the Commanders, Patriots, and Packers but fell to the Cowboys, Saints, and Eagles. While his performances weren’t always stellar, they were often better than expected, especially for an undrafted rookie thrust into a challenging situation.
Momentum shifts often occur after major organizational changes, and history offers plenty of examples. Just last week, the Bears looked significantly improved in their first game after firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, nearly pulling off an upset against the Packers before falling short due to a blocked field goal. Similarly, the Saints found success after firing head coach Dennis Allen last season, beating the Falcons the following week and following it up with a win over the Browns.
Even the Panthers benefitted from a change earlier this year. After benching Bryce Young following an 0-2 start, Andy Dalton took over and led Carolina to a win over the Raiders in what was easily their best offensive performance of the season.
The Buccaneers are a quality football team, making this a tough matchup for the Giants to begin with. While an outright New York victory feels like a long shot, the +5.5 spread looks more appealing. If DeVito can bring even a fraction of the spark seen in similar situations, the Giants may be able to keep this one close.
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