'MNF' takeaways: Late-game heroics from 'Tommy Cutlets' seals Giants win

The New York Giants knocked off the Green Bay Packers (6-7) 24-22 on "Monday Night Football" to extend their win streak to three games and improve to 5-8 on the season. Here are the biggest takeaways from the Giants' thrilling win. 

Saquon Barkley’s fumble doesn't come back to haunt the Giants: New York appeared on its way to icing a well-earned victory before Barkley coughed up a costly fumble on a 34-yard rushing attempt with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. 

On the play, Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine scooped the ball up and returned it to New York's 16-yard line, which set up a Malik Heath 6-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:36 left in the game. 

Ultimately, Giants QB Tommy DeVito's "Jersey Juice" was too strong for the cheeseheads. The undrafted free agent and New Jersey native remained unfazed on the final drive, going a perfect 4-of-4 passing for 53 yards, including a critical 32-yard strike to WR Wan'Dale Robinson to set up a 37-yard game-winning field goal from Randy Bullock. 

Overall, DeVito completed 80.9% of his passes for 158 yards and one touchdown while adding 71 yards rushing. 

Now 3-1 as a starter, DeVito has emerged as yet another compelling and unexpected success story involving a quarterback this season. While DeVito is still working to secure a long-term gig — and eventually move out of his parents' house — Daniel Jones' future in the NFL rests in the rookie's hands and gets brighter with each win. 

QB Jordan Love shines down the stretch, but the Giants defense snaps his hot streak: Although he put the Packers in a position to win, Love's two first-half turnovers were among the deciding factors in Monday's contest. The 25-year-old, who threw for 218 with one touchdown, an interception and a fumble lost, hadn't turned the ball over in any of his three previous games.

New York's defense has dominated the turnover battle across its three-game winning streak, forcing 12 takeaways in that span, which is particularly impressive considering the team recorded just 16 turnovers last season. 

Kayvon Thibodeaux continues to prove why primetime loves him as the Giants' second-year linebacker racked up eight tackles, one half-sack, one forced fumble and a pass breakup. If there was still any debate whether Thibodeaux, whose 11.5 sacks are tied for ninth in the NFL, the former top-five pick once again dispelled that notion. 

Updated playoff picture: Despite the loss, Green Bay shouldn't be concerned about missing the postseason just yet. According to the New York Times' playoff simulator, which runs thousands of simulations to predict the rest of the season's outcomes, the Packers have a greater than 99% chance of qualifying for the postseason if they win out.

With Green Bay's remaining games against Tampa Bay (6-7), Carolina (1-12), Minnesota (7-6), and Chicago (5-8), a four-game winning streak may be unlikely, but not out of the question. Even so, as long as the Packers manage to finish 3-1 down the stretch, the simulator gives them a 96% chance of reaching the playoffs.

New York, on the other hand, hurt its draft position more than it improved its chances of making the playoffs. The Giants entered Monday's action with a less than 1% chance to make the postseason, per the New York Times' model. 

Although they're only a game back from a playoff spot, they saw their chances boost to just 2% with the win, and had they lost, the Giants would've rocketed into the top four for the 2024 NFL Draft order.