This will be the second time in three weeks that thePhiladelphia Eagles, winners of the most recent Super Bowl, face the New York Giants and their rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart-perhaps a player they underestimated or undervalued too much in their last meeting, where their divisional rival took the win. Now, they better understand the challenge he presents.
In their first matchup, Jaxson Dart completed 17 of 25 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 58 yards and adding another score on the ground. It wasn’t an otherworldly performance, but he handled the pressure like a seasoned veteran rather than an NFL rookie, leading to a favorable 34-17 result. It was also the most points the Eagles defense had allowed all season.
Jaxson Dart surprised the Eagles’ staff
The rookie quarterback‘s performance caught the attention of Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who spoke about the upcoming Week 8 NFL matchup.
“One lesson learned is the teams that needed quarterbacks that bypassed him-they’re going to regret that.”
“Obviously very athletic, an elite scrambler. I think their coaches have done a great job with him. They’ve developed the Giants offense around him,” Fangio added. “Throws the ball very well intermediate and deep. He’s a good player.”
The New York Giants selected Jaxson Dart at No. 25 in the 2025 NFL Draft after trading back into the first round. Among the teams that passed on him were the Tennessee Titans (who took Cam Ward at No. 1), the New Orleans Saints (who selected Tyler Shough in the second round), the Cleveland Browns (who took Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the third and fifth rounds, respectively), as well as the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets.
Currently, Jaxson Dart has outperformed every other rookie quarterback in the NFL, leading the Giants to a 2-2 record, throwing for 791 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions, while also rushing for 178 yards and three touchdowns.
He’s one of the season’s pleasant surprises, and the Philadelphia Eagles know he’s more dangerous than he appears-because just a few weeks ago, they already felt what this underdog team is capable of.
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