The Jaxson Dart era in New York has begun. Dart led the Giants to their first win of the season in his first start of his NFL career. Entering Sunday’s game against the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers, this would be an interesting spot to throw a rookie whom New York traded up in the first round to select 25th overall. Let’s dive a little deeper into Dart’s performance against the vaunted Chargers’ defense!
What Led to Dart Starting?
After a 0-3 start to the season, it was evident that the Giants needed a spark of some sort. Head Coach Brian Daboll decided it would be time to turn the page on veteran QB Russell Wilson and enter “The Bullseye Era.” In Dart’s limited action before this game, he would only enter the game for specific packages to utilize his mobility. Heading into Week 4, it was as if he finally got the starring role on Broadway, and what an opportunity it was.
The Performance
For someone who was hoping Dart would be selected by his team, I was very impressed with what I saw in his first start for the New York Giants. Were his numbers jaw-dropping? Absolutely not. With only 111 passing yards, that was the fewest yards any QB threw all week. Now, with it being his first start, was I expecting him to “light it up?” Again, absolutely not. He was going against one of the best defenses over the past two seasons in the Los Angeles Chargers. What did I want to see?
I wanted to see how comfortable he looked in the pocket and his ability to read and react postsnap. His efficiency spoke for itself, as he completed 13 out of 20 passes. Is that good? No, however, for the first start of his career, he did enough to win the game. He also played a clean game, which is something few rookie quarterbacks do in their first NFL action.
Impressive Win
Going against the Chargers, not many people gave the Giants a chance, including me. Facing off against Justin Herbert, who has been playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the league, meant the Giants‘ defense would need to show out, and they did. When you win the turnover battle by two or more, you raise your probability of winning by 82%. They forced two interceptions from Herbert in the win. To put how improbable that may seem, he threw three picks in the regular season last year.
However, this win came at a very high cost. Star wide receiver Malik Nabers would leave with what would be determined later to be a torn ACL, ending his season. That is a conversation that goes beyond this game entirely. MetLife has claimed many ACLs and has been the home for many season-ending injuries in the past. It’s time for the NFL to remove Turf and install grass in all stadiums. As previously mentioned, that is another conversation for a different day.
Final Thoughts
Jaxson Dart was a superstar last year at Ole Miss, and he was an excellent game manager in Week 4. With the New York Giants giving the rookie the keys to the castle, his NFL future is in his hands. He is off to a great start with a quality win. Let’s see how the season progresses and how his play looks with more reps under his belt.
As always, thank you so much for checking out my thoughts and reaction to the New York Giants’ rookie, Jaxson Dart’s, first start! Be sure to check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! We hope you’re enjoying your day, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.
