Tommy DeVito replaced the injured Drew Lock late in the first quarter and led New York on two first-half scoring drives, which Eric Gray capped with runs of 48 and 1 yard, leading the Giants to a 14-3 defeat of the Detroit Lions on Thursday night in a season opener that featured mostly substitutes.
With the game being played in a light rain shower, neither Dan Campbell of the NFC North champion Lions nor Brian Daboll of the Giants wanted to risk putting a starter in the game at MetLife Stadium, near where the teams held two battle-filled joint practices on Monday and Tuesday.
The NFL was so angry about the brawls, the teams were each fined $200,000.
There was hardly any pushing and the scoring was just as good.
Brandon Joseph intercepted Lock’s pass over the middle and returned it 20 yards, setting up a 53-yard field goal by former United Football League kicker Jake Bates with 3:21 left in the quarter.
Lock, who completed 4 of 10 passes for 17 yards, injured his hip on the ensuing series and did not return.
DeVito, who became a local hero when he was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent last year and then started six games after Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor were injured, teamed with Gray to get New York on the board in the second quarter.
Gray, a fifth-round draft pick who was overlooked in training camp after a lackluster rookie season, caught a third-down, 24-yard swing pass to spark a six-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that he capped with a long run and a great move into open space.
DeVito hit passes of 13 yards to Gray and 18 yards to tight end Tyree Jackson to set up Gray’s 1-yard run. The drive began at the Lions 37 after Lions starter Nate Sudfeld was stopped by rookie Dru Phillips on a 4th-and-1.
Sudfeld played the first half and former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker started the second half in the battle to replace Jared Goff, who led the Lions to the NFC title game last season. Both are coming off ACL injuries. Sudfeld was 13 of 24 for 96 yards and an interception. Hooker was 5 of 9 for 36 yards with four rushing yards for 34 yards.
Both teams led the Lions to within the Giants’ 10-yard line in the second half, but were stopped there at one point.
DeVito completed 8 of 15 for 92 yards. Gray ran four times for 52 yards and free agent Dante Miller had 12 carries for 63 yards.
Bates, who has a shot at becoming the Lions’ kicker after playing in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers last season, hit a 53-yarder but missed the touchdown zone on the ensuing kickoff, sending the Giants to begin their drive at New York’s 40-yard line.
