With first place in the NFC East in their grasps, can backup quarterback Colt McCoy do enough to hold the line until the return of Daniel Jones?
Most football seasons, having to turn to your backup quarterback in the midst of a playoff push would be a disaster. This year, it’s been the status quo for the NY Giants and everyone else in the NFC East.
Injuries, ineffective play and a whole lot of losing has led to the worst division in football seeing a motley crew of signal callers get playing time.
The Dallas Cowboys have been lost without Dak Prescott – starting Andy Dalton and some fellow named Ben DiNucci in his place.
The Washington Football Team gave up on their young quarterback Dwayne Haskins, in favor of starting backups Kyle Allen and Alex Smith. Allen went down with an injury, and while Smith has one of the best stories in all of football, is he really a good option?
Coming into this season, many experts would’ve picked Carson Wentz as the best quarterback in the division, but he’s been the worst starting quarterback in the league. The clock is ticking, and Jalen Hurts may be starting for Philadelphia as early as next week.
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As for the NY Giants, they’re in first place for many reasons, but one has been that they’re the only team that has gotten even average play from the position. Daniel Jones started off the season rough, but has played very well during the team’s win streak.
Now, the Giants will have to deal with what their division counterparts have dealt with all year – playing with their backup quarterback. Enter: Colt McCoy.
Fans of the first place NY Giants should be familiar with McCoy, as he was a member of the Washington Football Team from 2014 to 2019. While playing in the nation’s capital, he was primarily a back-up, but got some playing time due to injuries and other reasons, like his competition being Case Keenum.
In the football world, McCoy’s best known for being the heart of some great Texas Longhorns’ teams. He went 45-8 as a starter for the burnt orange squad, leading them to a National Championship appearance and finishing second in Heisman voting.
The last time Texas was back, it was McCoy leading the charge.
Now, far removed from his collegiate success and over a decade of experience playing second fiddle in the NFL, can McCoy do his part during this unlikely playoff run for the Giants?
After Jones went down with his hamstring injury this past weekend, McCoy completed six of his ten pass attempts for 31 yards. He did just enough to get Big Blue six points after the defense forced two turnovers, but missed what would’ve been an easy 21 yard touchdown when he overthrew a wide open Dion Lewis.
"“I’m always going to be ready to play, but I hate it for DJ,” McCoy told reporters, following the win. “I just didn’t want to let our team down, I was going to be prepared and you never know when these situations pop up. I work hard in practice and I know my teammates have confidence in me, and I just tried to go out there and secure the win for us.”"
Even with Daniel Jones, it would’ve been tough for the Giants to go into Seattle and get a victory. With McCoy, it might be near impossible.
To beat a team like the Seahawks, McCoy will have to do what Jones has during this win streak – limit mistakes, don’t turn over the football and just don’t lose them the game. Let a gritty defense and good run game guide you, and take what a historically bad Seattle defense gives you.
A full week of practice with the ones should help, and offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett, will sure have to adjust his plan. Sorry Colt, but I don’t foresee you getting as many RPOs as Jones.
McCoy wore the jersey of Giants’ legend, Frank Gifford, at practice last week, as coach Joe Judge wanted players to learn of New York’s history. I don’t see McCoy playing both sides of the ball and winning an MVP any time soon, but a win in Seattle would be more than memorable.