PHILADELPHIA — They serve cheesesteaks here in Philadelphia, not chicken cutlets.
The Giants benched Tommy DeVito to start the second half during the team’s Christmas Day clash against the Eagles, inserting Tyrod Taylor at quarterback.
The Giants were trailing 20-3 and had just gotten the ball at the Eagles’ 14-yard-line after Boston Scott fumbled the kickoff to start the third quarter.
Saquon Barkley subsequently rushed three times and scored to cut the Giants’ deficit to 20-10.
DeVito struggled mightily before his benching, completing just 9-of-16 passes for 55 yards as the Giants offense hardly moved the ball in the first half.
He had one rush for five yards as well.
The undrafted quarterback and third-stringer-turned-starting-quarterback had said earlier in the week he was looking forward to the famously unruly crowd at Lincoln Financial Field.
He quickly got a rude awakening.
“I heard it’s a pretty hostile environment,” DeVito said. “I’m looking forward to it. I like to thrive in those environments. It’s fun. It’s part of the game. I like a hostile crowd.”
Including Monday’s game, DeVito had started the last six games after replacing the injured Daniel Jones and Taylor, and notably kept his starting job after Taylor returned to health.
DeVito’s unlikely rise hit a crescendo in the Giants’ 24-22 “Monday Night Football” win over the Packers in Week 14, which extended their win streak to three.
DeVito led a game-winning field goal drive in the final seconds, threw for 158 yards and a touchdown and added 71 rushing yards.
But it appears Devito-sanity has come crashing back to reality.
He was beaten up and similarly struggled during the Giants’ 24-6 loss to the Saints last week, which snapped their win streak and all but ended any faint playoff hopes.
Devito threw for 177 yards and no touchdowns, as the Giants failed to score any touchdowns as a team. DeVito was sacked seven times as well.
And now after another rough half in Philadelphia, Devito’s Christmas present is a spot on the bench.