E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he was one of only three sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls up until last year. Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

WITH NOTHING TO PLAY FOR, EXCEPT PRIDE,
GIANTS PREPARE FOR INCOMING LA RAMS AMID ANOTHER QUARTERBACK CHANGE

By Aaron Klein
Two games left. Two weeks to go before the nightmarish season is over and the work of building a new roster can begin. Again.

For now, Tommy DeVito is back on the shelf, and there is plenty of debate on head coach Brian Daboll's decision to go back to Tyrod Taylor as starter this week. No, his move to bench DeVito at halftime against the Philadelphia Eagles shouldn't be questioned, but sticking with Taylor at least should generate doubt.

Sticking with Taylor, Daboll has explained, has everything to do with trying to find a spark and deciding that it is Taylor, and not DeVito, who can provide said spark and give the team the best chance to win.

"I thought Ty did some good things in the second half of Philly so he earned the right to start this game," Daboll said on Wednesday. "Let's get ready for the Rams. Really have nothing else to add on it. That's where we're at."

On the one hand, such a decisive move is to be commended as it is exactly what a coach should say and do, regardless of a team's record or playoff prospects. He is trying to win every game and not give up, according to this decision.

On the other, what's the point of playing a 12-year veteran who likely will not be with the team next year instead of playing a rookie who has shown some real skills despite displaying a sore lack of others, who needs time to develop and could prove something to the team over these final two weeks, one way or the other.

E-Giants' Dave Klein thinks the decision is a mistake and that the Giants have more to learn for the future by playing DeVito over Taylor.

Maybe Daboll and General Manager Joe Schoen already know, one way or the other.

We'll see what transpires. Taylor could spark the team, regardless of the game's outcome, or he could struggle enough to warrant a change - though one has to wonder if Daboll has crossed that line and only an injury would put DeVito back under center.

Curiously, when asked again to specify what exactly he saw in Taylor during the loss to Philadelphia, Daboll played it close to the chest. Again. Or, is he just trying to save his job?

"I just thought he did some good things," Daboll reiterated, "so he's earned the opportunity this week."

Yeah, coach. We got it.

Back to the Rams, who will come into MetLife on Sunday (1:00 ET, FOX) with their postseason lives on the line. Meanwhile, the Giants are playing for pride... and film.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was swapped out of Detroit for Jared Goff, whose Lions have clinched a spot in the playoffs, would love to meet his old team in the postseason.

For the season, Stafford has completed 302 passes out of 487 attempts for 3.648 yards and 23 touchdowns.

"I think that Stafford is playing at a Hall of Fame-type level and each team, we've talked about it here, each team gels and they have gelled offensively," Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said on Wednesday. "I think that Matthew is... I mean, he's making throws that you just sit there and go, 'wow.' From all different kinds of arm angles, no-looks, all those things you've heard about, you're seeing him do it and they're playing at a very high level.

"I think that the thing that [Rams head coach] Sean [McVay] has done is that they've made a commitment to the run game and changing their offensive line this year," Martindale said. "Now, it's a two-headed monster that you have to deal with."

The receiving duo of Cooper Kupp and rookie Puka Nacua have lit things up for the Rams. Combined, the pair has over 2,000 yards receiving with nine touchdowns on over 150 receptions, while running back Kyren Wiliams, a force on his own, has gained 1,057 yards and nine touchdowns on 208 carries.

"They're two really good players, tremendous run after catch," Daboll said. "Strong, physical, I mean, they do stuff that tight ends do in the run game, both of them. Got a lot of respect for Sean [McVay]. They've played really well. You know, they were 5-12 last year, started out 3-6 [this] year. Stafford is as good a quarterback as there is in the league right now, has been for a long time but 5-1, scoring a ton of points, on point, does a great job of getting those guys the ball. He's an exceptional, exceptional player, they do a great job and they're playing really well."

The Rams are 5-1 since their and a big part of that has been the play of Stafford - and of course the defense, led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

"Yeah, Stafford's thrown 15 touchdowns, two interceptions," Daboll said about the hot streak. "I mean, he's one of the top quarterbacks in the league, been that way for a long time. Playing good team football, don't have a lot of negative runs, five-plus runs are tops in the league, explosive pass plays. They're playing good football and he's - competed against him, watched him from afar, remember him coming out of Georgia. Great dude."

Questions? Comments?
Send it all over to aaronklein22@gmail.com
and follow me on Twitter @_AaronKlein_
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @E_Giants

You can subscribe Dave's newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here. - Team Giants

NOW - Send a request to davesklein@aol.com for a free week's worth of news!