There is no doubt that Jaxson Dart has been a pleasant surprise in his first year as the New York Giants’ quarterback, despite the team’s poor overall results. Dart, one of the Giants’ two first-round picks in the most recent Draft, has become a light at the end of the tunnel for an organization going through dark times.
Jaxson Dart took over as the starter in Week 4, and his impact was immediate. However, his aggressive style of play caught up with him when he suffered a heavy hit in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears, causing him to miss the next two games. In his first seven starts, Dart accounted for 17 total touchdowns-impressive numbers-and came close to defeating both the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears.
Problems arose when Dart returned in Week 13, as head coach Brian Daboll had already been fired by then, and the quarterback has not looked the same since. He has thrown just three touchdowns since his return and, in his most recent game, completed only 7 of 13 passes for 33 yards against the Minnesota Vikings, raising concerns within the Giants organization.
A strong comparison between Jaxson Dart and Drake Maye
Another major breakout player this season has undoubtedly been New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who has led the Pats to a 12-3 record. In his second year, he is one of the favorites to win the league MVP, alongside Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The former North Carolina standout has put together a sensational campaign and is coming off his first 300-yard passing game, achieved last Sunday in a comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens.
There is no doubt the NFL is in good hands, with several young quarterbacks shining, but the future looks especially exciting when it comes to Jaxson Dart and Drake Maye. Still, a direct comparison between the two stands out: of Drake Maye’s 12 wins this season, only two have come against teams with winning records, while Jaxson Dart’s only two victories have both been against teams above .500.
The main criticism is that the New England Patriots have faced one of the easiest schedules in the NFL, while the Giants’ schedule was considered the toughest in the league from the start of the season. Even so, the Patriots are not to blame and are viewed as one of the AFC favorites heading into the playoffs, a spot they have already secured.
Meanwhile, despite everything that has gone wrong for the Giants, Jaxson Dart has led victories over the Los Angeles Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles and came close to beating the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears. If the organization can find the right head coach and an effective system for their quarterback, the future could be bright for a franchise that is currently in a very fragile state.
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