MetLife Stadium was suddenly quiet, scared by a third-string quarterback doing his best Aaron Rodgers impression.
Scott Tolzien was flinging the ball all over the field, making the most of his first career NFL start. The former Wisconsin star, a journeyman who was the 49ers No. 3 the last two seasons, had the Packers within a touchdown, was closing in on 300 yards on the day, and had the ball back at his own 30-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
Moments later, however, MetLife was rocking again, after Jason Pierre-Paul read Tolzien’s eyes, reached up and snatched the inexperienced quarterback’s pass in the flat and went 24 yards the other way, ruining the Cinderella script Tolzien was writing.
“Gave him a freebie there, really huge momentum swing,” Tolzien said after the Giants won their fourth straight, 27-13, over his skidding Packers. “We had a chance at that point, and that kills you.”
When the Giants talked up Tolzien all week, raved about his quick release, claimed the Packers didn’t change how they attacked through the air, it was met with eye rolls. But Big Blue wasn’t playing coy.
While Tolzien wasn’t quite Rodgers, he didn’t perform like a journeyman quarterback, either. The practice squad call-up, pressed into duty after Rodgers suffered a fractured left collarbone and backup Seneca Wallace injured his groin, made several big throws.
“Scott has everything it takes to be a good quarterback in the National Football League,” Packers wide receiver James Jones said. “We see it Monday through Friday, and on Sunday.”
He completed 24-of-34 passes for 339 yards, and showed poise in the pocket and accuracy down the field when given enough time to throw. But he was also picked off three times, though the third came in the final minutes, after the result was all but decided.
“I thought he improved in a lot of areas today,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.
The Giants were basically begging the Packers to beat them through the air, stacking the box and limiting rookie running back Eddie Lacy to just 27 yards on 14 carries.
And while Tolzien did hit on a few big plays, such as a 52-yard strike to Jarrett Boykin and a 25-yard completion down the right sideline to Jordy Nelson, his three picks proved costly.
“That’s Football 101,” he said. “That’s from the time you’re playing youth ball to high school, college, pro, every level. That’s the starting point for a quarterback. You have to take care of the ball. I did not do that tonight.”
He handled his postgame press conference like a veteran, accepting blame and talking about team, refusing to discuss himself in a positive light. Tolzien gritted his teeth and his upper body shook on occasion, as he explained his costly mistakes. He had this opportunity, a chance to lead Green Bay back from a two-touchdown deficit.
Instead, his first NFL start ended in disheartening defeat.