ClutchPoints
Oh, how the New York Giants are crowing now. And their rookie running back is getting loud with his performances. But remember, the Giants are 2-4. Still, they have found their future in the Jaxson Dart-Cam Skattebo duo.
Skattebo ran for three scores, while Dart had one rushing and another passing as the Giants beat up on the Eagles, 34-17, on Thursday Night Football.
The result left little doubt about two things. The Eagles’ crown is unsteady and dangling off the side of their head. Second, the Giants are an up-and-coming team. But let’s pump the brakes before we crown them.
Let’s give credit where credit is due. Dart looked fantastic against the Eagles. Skattebo appeared to be unstoppable. This didn’t come off the way NFL “experts” predicted. And Dart acknowledged the surprise, according to ESPN.
“Quite honestly, nobody really expected us to put up a performance like this,” said Dart, who was 17 of 25 for 195 yards passing and had 13 carries for 58 yards. “We felt confident. We just tried to play hard for each other. We’re not trying to make statements. We’re just trying to play for each other and win games.”
Certainly, the win relieved some tension about head coach Brian Daboll’s job security. He will almost surely remain as the team’s head coach as long as the Dart-Skattebo tandem seems to be headed in the right direction.
“You go through some tough times,” Daboll said. “Sometimes you can get stronger from it, or sometimes you can fold. I like our guys. These young players, I have a lot of confidence in these young players. These rookies. They have the right mindset. They’re tough.
“We know that everybody’s going to rally around each other the more that we have performances like this.”
This wasn’t your average rookie performance. The final numbers aren’t shocking, but the way Dart performed could be labeled as such.
He threw passes with confidence. Yes, he threw into danger on a few occasions and got away with it. On another night, those might not work out for him. But there’s no doubting this young man’s confidence.
Also, he avoided pressure and sacks like a grizzled veteran. And when he got loose, he made plays with his legs.
This is the comparison some people will rush to, so it needs to be said with caution and fairness to Dart. But from an overall body of work so far, he looks like this year’s Jayden Daniels.
Certainly, he already has a statement win, according to ESPN.
“Yeah, I mean, it absolutely is [a statement] because you have to have a lot of respect for that team. They just came off winning the Super Bowl. Top team in the league,” Dart said after throwing and running for a touchdown in his second win in three starts. “Quite honestly, nobody really expected us to put up a performance like this....
