This article was curated by It’s That Part, where we highlight the truth in every fact—curated for deeper insight and critical reflection.
Not too long ago, I was raving about the possibilities of a winning season with Russell Wilson at the helm of the New York Giants. Sure, his time in Pittsburgh and part of Denver were forgettable at times. But surely, the bright lights of New York would change things, right? Well, with the Giants sitting at 1-3 this season (and 0-3 at the time Wilson was benched), allow me to say that I was wrong. From the looks of it, we were in deep s**t. That’s regardless of the fact that we lost to a three-time Super Bowl championship-winning quarterback.
They were left off the hook
The game against the Kansas City Chiefs was a moment for “Big Blue” to make a statement. With both teams headed into that game winless, they both were desperate to get on the board. Although the Giants’ defense made several big plays, the offense continued to not be able to close the deal. Some of the more deflating offensive plays were made by way of interceptions. Wilson had two on the day, which were grim reminders of his huge overtime one the week before against the Cowboys.
Thankfully, we headed into the fourth week with a different energy. The Giants’ head coach was put in a position to make a decision as to whether or not Wilson should continue starting. So, it was announced last week by head coach Brian Daboll that Jaxson Dart will be starting in week four. My short answer to the timing of this change is that this was the perfect time. It’s still early enough in the season to tangibly make it to the post-season while still giving wiggle room for a couple of losses.
Big blue skies
Daboll’s decision proved to be right, as Dart led the Giants to their first win of the season. The team played with a lot of pep in their step. The rookie quarterback played efficiently, connecting on 13 of his 20 throws, while scoring two touchdowns. There was a steadiness to the game that really seemed to help all involved. Not having as many turnovers helped the defense to be able to rest a bit more during offensive drives. This is ultimately a lovely building block.
So, clearly, I’m in favor of all this. I had the best of hopes for Wilson in his starting role, but the football Gods seemingly have felt differently. As we head into a fifth week, know that it’s a long season. Wilson may actually start again at some point, but I’m certainly not holding my breath. It looks like the future is with Dart. All he has to do, more times than not, is hit the bullseye.
