Giants' Tommy DeVito, Titans' Will Levis cap remarkable week for backup QBs
The 2023 NFL season has been filled with injuries and inconsistent play from starting quarterbacks, leading to unexpected names going under center for a host of teams.
Week 14's slate of games included the most surprising group of victorious signal-callers yet, as Tommy DeVito and Will Levis brought the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans shocking wins in their respective "Monday Night Football" tilts against the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins.
"Tommy Cutlets" made both Giants and NFL history when he made his first career start in Week 10 vs. the Cowboys, but that outing ended up being his worst thus far, finishing 14-for-27 for 86 yards, two touchdowns and one interception with a 67.8 quarterback rating in a blowout loss. DeVito has since led New York to three straight wins and kept them (barely) alive in the NFC playoff picture at 5-8.
The 25-year-old has gone 52-for-72 (72.2%) for 595 passing yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions over the three-game stretch, while adding 16 carries for 84 yards. DeVito has also produced quarterback ratings of over 100 in all three contests and set career highs in completion percentage (81.0%), rushing attempts (10) and rushing yards (71) against the Packers.
The Titans' victory over the Dolphins on Monday was perhaps even more stunning. They were facing one of the top teams in the NFL, in Miami, where quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and company hadn't lost this season. An early injury to star wide receiver Tyreek Hill certainly changed the complexion of the contest, but Hill returned and had some big plays helping the Dolphins to a two-score lead in the fourth quarter. But after Miami took a 14-point lead with 4:34 to play, Levis and the Titans scored twice, including a two-point conversion, to steal the win.
Levis took over for veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill in late October after the latter suffered a high-ankle sprain. Upon Tannehill's return to health, Levis had won the starting job.
Following a sensational four-touchdown debut in Tennessee's Week 8 debut against the Atlanta Falcons, Levis hit a rough patch, losing four of the next five games and recording only three touchdown passes vs. two interceptions and two fumbles lost. He bounced back on Monday against the Dolphins (despite an early pick-six), posting career highs in completions (23) and passing yards (327).
Like the Giants, the Titans are 5-8 and still mathematically alive for a playoff spot, though the ESPN Football Power Index gives both squads just a 0.4% chance of qualifying for the tournament.
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