The December 29, 2024, matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants ended with a shocking 45-33 Giants victory at MetLife Stadium. Drew Lock threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns, while rookie sensation Malik Nabers exploded for 171 receiving yards and two scores on just seven catches. The Giants ended their brutal 10-game losing streak and shut down the Colts’ playoff hopes in one afternoon.
Despite the Colts racking up 446 total yards to the Giants’ 389, Indianapolis couldn’t overcome three turnovers. Joe Flacco passed for 320 yards for the Colts, but the mistakes proved costly. Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s 100-yard kickoff return touchdown gave New York a massive momentum swing. The Giants protected the ball perfectly with zero turnovers, while the Colts handed them short fields all game.
I still remember watching this game unfold and thinking, “How are the Giants pulling this off?” They came in winless at home all season, riding a 10-game skid that had fans calling for changes. Then they put up 45 points on a Colts team that desperately needed a win to keep playoff dreams alive.
This wasn’t just any late-season throwaway game. The Colts vs Giants player stats tell the story of how one team protected the football and made explosive plays while the other moved the ball well but couldn’t finish. Let’s break down exactly what happened on that cold December afternoon.
Game Situation and Stakes
The Giants entered this game at 2-13, searching for anything positive to take into the offseason. They hadn’t won at home all year. The pressure was mounting on everyone.
For Indianapolis, the math was simple. Win and stay alive in the playoff hunt. Lose and pack it in. Joe Flacco had stepped in at quarterback after Anthony Richardson’s season ended, and the veteran was keeping things competitive.
What unfolded was one of those games where the team that looked better on paper completely fell apart when it mattered.
Quarterback Battle: Lock vs Flacco
Drew Lock stepped into the starting role for New York and delivered his best performance in years. He went 17-of-23 for 309 yards, throwing four touchdown passes without an interception. His passer rating stayed near perfect for most of the game. Lock made quick decisions, spread the ball to multiple targets, and didn’t force anything into coverage.
Joe Flacco put up solid numbers for the Colts, finishing with 320 passing yards. He completed passes at a decent rate and moved the chains consistently. But the turnovers killed any rhythm Indianapolis tried to build. Flacco has enough experience to know when a game slips away, and you could see it happening in real time.
Quarterback Stats Comparison
| Stat | Drew Lock (NYG) | Joe Flacco (IND) |
|---|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 17/23 | Data not specified |
| Passing Yards | 309 | 320 |
| Touchdowns | 4 | Multiple |
| Interceptions | 0 | Part of 3 turnovers |
| Rushing TDs | 1 | 0 |
The giants vs colts 2024 stats show Lock was more efficient when it counted. His yards per attempt were higher, and he didn’t give the ball away.
Malik Nabers Steals the Show
This is where the game really separated. Malik Nabers put on a clinic.
The rookie receiver hauled in seven catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns on just eight targets. That’s over 24 yards per catch. One of his scores came on a 31-yard grab in the first quarter that pushed him over 1,000 receiving yards for the season. Hitting that milestone as a rookie in a lost season? That’s the kind of thing that sticks with you.
Nabers used his speed to create separation downfield. When Lock gave him a chance, he made the catch. Simple as that.
Darius Slayton added a 32-yard touchdown reception, and Wan’Dale Robinson caught a short scoring pass. The Giants’ passing attack finally clicked after struggling for weeks.
Top Receivers
| Player | Team | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Nabers | NYG | 7 | 171 | 2 |
| Darius Slayton | NYG | Multiple | 32+ | 1 |
| Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG | Multiple | Short yardage | 1 |
The Colts had receivers making plays, too. They moved the chains and picked up first downs. But no one in Indianapolis matched the explosive production Nabers delivered. The Malik Nabers stats vs colts are exactly what you want to see from a young star who refuses to quit on a bad season.
Ground Game Contributions
Neither team dominated on the ground, but both found enough success to keep defenses honest.
The Colts rushed for 126 yards, spreading carries among their running backs. That’s a solid total, but they needed more when playing from behind. Jonathan Taylor had been dealing with injuries throughout 2024, and while the jonathan taylor stats 2024 show flashes of his old form, this game wasn’t one of his explosive outings.
New York managed just 80 rushing yards. They didn’t need much with Lock throwing so efficiently. The Giants used the run to keep the clock moving and set up play-action shots downfield.
Rushing Stats
| Team | Rushing Yards | Notable Performances |
|---|---|---|
| Colts | 126 | Spread among multiple backs |
| Giants | 80 | Complementary to the passing game |
Running the ball kept both offenses balanced enough to avoid becoming one-dimensional. But this game was won through the air.
Special Teams Flip the Momentum
You can’t talk about this game without mentioning Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. That play was huge.
The Giants were already building confidence, but a return like that completely shifts the energy. The crowd went from cautious hope to full-blown celebration. The Colts’ special teams unit got burned badly, and it cost them seven points they couldn’t afford to give up.
Graham Gano added field goals for New York, including a 30-yarder late that helped extend the lead. Matt Gay hit a couple for Indianapolis, but they needed touchdowns, not field goals.
Special teams often get overlooked in stat breakdowns. Not here. That return was as important as any offensive touchdown.
Team Stats: Why the Colts Lost Despite More Yards
Here’s the part that frustrated Colts fans. Look at these numbers:
Full Team Stats
| Stat | Colts | Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 446 | 389 |
| Passing Yards | 320 | 309 |
| Rushing Yards | 126 | 80 |
| First Downs | 25 | 15 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
Indianapolis outgained New York by 57 yards. They picked up 10 more first downs. They controlled possession for stretches.
But three turnovers to zero? That’s the game right there.
The colts vs giants box score shows Indianapolis moved the ball effectively between the 20s. They just couldn’t protect it in crucial moments. New York capitalized on every mistake and didn’t give the ball away once. Clean football beats sloppy football every single time.
The Giants scored efficiently when they had the ball. They made explosive plays (Nabers’ catches, the kickoff return) that generated points quickly. The Colts had to grind for everything and then gave it right back with turnovers.
What This Game Means for Both Teams
For the Giants, this win felt like exhaling after holding your breath for months. Ending that 10-game losing streak mattered, even in a lost season. Nabers showed he’s a building block for the future. Lock proved he could manage a game without imploding. The offense scored 45 points after struggling to crack 20 points most weeks.
It gave them something to point to heading into the offseason. Sometimes one good game is enough to shift the mood.
For Indianapolis, this loss ended their playoff hopes immediately. They came into Week 17 needing help, and instead of taking care of business, they coughed up the ball and watched their season end. The frustration was real. You could feel it.
The Colts finished 2024 at 8-9, narrowly missing the postseason. This game was the difference between hope and disappointment. Looking back now in February 2026, it stands out as the moment their season officially ended.
Final Takeaway
This game showed what happens when one team protects the ball and makes explosive plays while the other beats itself with mistakes. The Colts vs Giants player stats reveal a simple truth: yards don’t matter if you can’t hold onto the football.
Malik Nabers announced himself as a legitimate star. Drew Lock had his moment. The Giants found something to feel good about in a brutal year.
For the Colts, it was a painful reminder that in the NFL, the team that takes care of the ball usually wins. Three turnovers turned what should have been a competitive game into a statement loss that ended their season.
If you go back and watch the highlights now, you’ll see exactly how quickly momentum can shift. One kickoff return, one defensive stop, one perfectly thrown deep ball. That’s all it takes.
FAQs
Who had the best individual performance in the Colts vs Giants game?
Malik Nabers dominated with 171 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. His efficiency and big-play ability made him the clear standout.
How many passing touchdowns did Drew Lock throw?
Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes without an interception, his best performance of the 2024 season.
Did the Colts make the playoffs after losing to the Giants?
No. This loss on December 29, 2024, eliminated the Colts from playoff contention and ended their season at 8-9.
What was the final score of the Colts vs Giants game?
The Giants won 45-33 at home, snapping their 10-game losing streak.
Why did the Colts lose despite having more total yards?
The Colts turned the ball over three times while the Giants had zero turnovers. New York also scored on special teams with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown.
