Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo Lead the Giants to a Commanding Victory
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Young quarterback Jaxson Dart believes the New York Giants’ 34-17 victory over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles was a statement of intent. This triumph broke an eight-game losing streak for the Giants in the NFC East and marked their first victory against a defending Super Bowl champion since the 1998 season.The Giants (2-4) followed Dart’s lead and that of fellow rookie Cam Skattebo. Dart completed 17 of 25 passes for 195 yards and ran for 58 yards on 13 attempts. He became the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to run for at least 50 yards in each of his first three starts, joining Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts. Skattebo, for his part, scored three touchdowns on the ground and finished with 98 yards on 19 carries. Dart mentioned the recent negativity surrounding the team, something defensive captain Brian Burns has also noticed. The Giants, who were underdogs by more than a touchdown before Thursday night’s game, are looking to change the narrative.“Yes, it absolutely is a statement because you have to have a lot of respect for that team. They just won the Super Bowl. They are the best team in the league,” Dart said after throwing and running for a touchdown in his second win in three starts. “Honestly, nobody expected us to have a performance like this. As a team, as teammates, we feel confident. We just try to play hard for each other. We are not trying to make statements. We are just trying to play for each other and win games. We want to find an identity. I feel like we did a good job of putting that together tonight.”
Jaxson Dart
The team’s performance during Thursday night’s victory can help change the perception of the Giants, who had a 3-14 record last season.“I feel like we’re connected. We had some games, moments where things didn’t go our way. We feel like we’re a really good team, we have really good players. We’re just trying to win games. We’re just trying to stay internal and connected every day,” Dart said.
Jaxson Dart
The Giants had lost seven of the last eight games against the Eagles. New York’s last divisional win was against Philadelphia in Week 17 of the 2023 season. Brian Daboll improved to 5-16-1 against divisional opponents since taking over as coach before the 2022 season, but he was happy with the win. “Winning feels good,” Daboll said. “I’m happy for the guys who work so hard to try to get the result we all want.” The Giants’ dynamic this season seems different, especially since Dart was named the starter and Skattebo’s role has increased. Dart has quickly become a leader, the heart of the team.“I think it shows the whole league what we are capable of,” said right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.
Jermaine Eluemunor
The leader of a team that showed the rest of the NFL that it is dangerous with him as quarterback.“I’ve liked everything about Dart since we’ve had him. He has toughness, I think he sees the field well, he has athleticism, vision, leadership,” Daboll said. “It’s three games; 2-1 as a starting quarterback. But there’s a lot to work on. He’ll be the first to tell you that. He’s a leader.”
Brian Daboll
