Big Blue View
The New York Giants got their first win of the 2025 season, and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart got the first win of his career, with a 21-18 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
The Giants thought they were going to get their first win of the season against the Dallas Cowboys after Russell Wilson’s go-ahead touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter. Instead, they left just enough time for Dallas to tie the game and eventually win in overtime.
That, however, didn’t happen as the Giants were able to run out the clock against the Chargers.
“I was just waiting for it to hit zero,” Dart said after the win. “Obviously that Dallas game, in my mind I thought we were going to have that one. So I was just staring at the clock and just waiting for it to count down. But Jon Runyan was right next to me, and that was a cool moment to have with him. And, yeah, it was just special to get the first one.”
The Giants’ win was set up by a big throw and catch from Dart to second year tight end Theo Johnson to convert a crucial third down just before the two-minute warning.
Dart says that the play was an adjustment he and Johnson made based on their tape study during the week.
“That one was really cool because it was something that we discussed,” he said. “Kind of a change-up, an adjustment on the route. He [Johnson] was really just supposed to keep running all the way through. And I told him, just from like film prep and stuff, you see that middle open, just sit it down for me. So it was kind of just like a cool moment to see that happen in a big situation like that.”
Dart added that he wasn’t surprised that the Giants trusted him with a pass in that high-leverage situation.
“I wasn’t [surprised] because I wanted the ball in my hand,” he said. “When I think back on the game, obviously I haven’t watched the tape, but there’s mistakes that I made that I want back in the passing game, and I want to be cleaner. So I was grateful that they did have the confidence in me to move the ball there.
“And I just knew in that situation, the guys out there were going to make the play.”
Dart was asked how much it meant to him to help deliver a victory after head coach Brian Daboll inserted him into the lineup.
“Me and Dabs just have a special relationship,” Dart added. “He’s the guy that believed in me from day one. And I think it does say a lot that he made the decision, had the confidence in me, and even just giving me the ball in those situations on a third down to make a play. So, I think that when you have a coach who has your back, I’m going to go out...
