The Giants take care of business, crush the Cubs and take over the playoffs

East Rutherford, NJ — Returned the Gatorade bath for the head coach. Fans counted down the final seconds and at the final signal there were fireworks above MetLife Stadium. There were tears in the locker room.

Yes, the New York Giants are finally back in the game.

Daniel Jones threw two touchdowns and ran for two more as the Giants beat the Indianapolis Colts 38-10 on Sunday to return to the postseason for the first time since 2016.

“It’s pretty cool, I’ll be honest,” said Saquon Barkley, who has led the team to a 6-2 start. “In that institution, no one gave us a chance except men and women.”

Coming into the season, the Giants were among the most likely teams to make the postseason.

They had five consecutive seasons, including four wins in 2021, which led to the firing of coach Joe Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman.

Buffalo assistant Joe Schoen was hired as general manager and Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was selected as his coach, his first head coaching job.

Dabol took a young team and made them focus and believe in themselves one week at a time. The Giants (9-6-1) overcame injuries and a 2-4-1 slide in November and early December to become the third NFC East team to qualify for the postseason, joining Philadelphia and Dallas.

Daboll was doused in Gatorade after the game, a Giants tradition first associated with Bill Parcells in the 1980s.

The low-key Daboll said Jones was “stuck” after the game, saying he was given the next two days off as the team broke things up.

Players said the locker room was filled with excitement.

“Loud, dancing, laughing, so many emotions,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said. “It’s all signs of happiness. We’ve worked hard with these guys since the spring with the new coaching staff, and everything is playing out.”

Landon Collins, one of two players from the ’16 team, broke the game open late in the second quarter with a 52-yard pick-6 for the Giants (9-6-1).

The Colts (4-11-1) lost their sixth straight game, ninth in 10.

“We still have one more week. I have to get these guys to play good football last week, and I have to try to win and finish this season the right way,” Coles interim head coach Jeff said Saturday.

The giants Sean and Daboll liked their already high-powered bills.

Their point total was a season high and the first time the team scored at least 30 points since Oct. 11, 2020, when they scored 34 in a 37-34 loss at Dallas.

Jones played like Bills star Josh Allen, who saw the team not pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract when he was the No. 6 overall pick in 2019.

The 25-year-old threw 6-yard touchdown passes to Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins in the first half and scored on runs of 18 and 10 yards in the second half. He finished 19 of 24 for 177 yards and had 11 rushes for 91 yards.

With the crowd chanting his name, Jones left the field with about 7:30 left in the game.

“I mean, it’s just fun. I think like I said, we’ve been through some tough times and it’s fun to be on this side,” Jones said.

The only negative for New York was seeing starter Kyvon Thibodeau work the Snow Angels after he sacked and injured Colts quarterback Nick Foles late in the second quarter. According to Saturday’s rules, Foles, who fell on the ball, walked off the field but was carted off to the locker room. He did not return.

Thibodeaux said he was celebrating and didn’t realize Foles was hurt, hoping he would heal quickly.

Sam Ehlinger played the second half and threw his first NFL TD pass, 6 yards to Michael Pittman.

Disadvantages

Colts: In addition to Foles, cornerback Brandon Faison left the game with a concussion.

Giants: DL Leonard Williams left the game in the second half with a stringer.

Next

ColtsThey host Houston on Sunday in the regular season finale.

GiantsThey traveled to New Jersey to face the Eagles in Philadelphia.