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Other Giant observations
Giants’ Andrew Thomas set for big challenge against NFL’s sack leader | New York Post
“I know I’m a true competitor, and the rest of the guys in the room [are] as well,” Thomas said. “We want to play against the best. They are one of the most talented groups up front. So we are excited for the challenge. First, his explosiveness — he does a really good job of getting off the ball. A lot of the speed [rushers], normally, they don’t have great power. What makes him unique is he can power rush as well, so you have to be ready for both.”
Iron sharpens iron in the trenches
Maulers of the Meadowlands? For one identity-altering game Giants earned respect up front | The Record
New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas stepped onto the field inside MetLife Stadium against the Philadelphia Eagles with a lofty goal versus the reigning Super Bowl champions.
It’s something the Giants have not done – especially opposite the Eagles – in quite some time. “We wanted to dominate the line of scrimmage,” Thomas said.
Lesson learned: Jaxson Dart might actually be the guy. It has been only three starts, but Dart has shown signs of being a franchise quarterback. That was especially apparent as he led the Giants to upset wins over the Chargers and Eagles. Three quarterbacks have rushed for at least 50 yards in their first three starts — Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and now Dart. Perhaps more importantly, Dart and rookie running back Cam Skattebo have injected life into the Giants. “Their energy is contagious,” cornerback Cor’Dale Flott said.
Where Jaxson Dart excelled that should have the Giants most excited: Week 6 film review | The Athletic
The control Dart showed behind the line of scrimmage and in utilizing all the tools in offensive coordinator Mike Kafka’s system pre-snap is highly encouraging. Dart could have invigorated the Giants with just his athleticism and play outside of structure, but the progress he showed Thursday night on the mental side of the game is a sign he could develop into a top-tier signal caller. Obviously, there’s a long way to go, but Dart is showing signs of rapid development, and ultimately, he could be coach Brian Daboll’s saving grace.
Another Angry Runs Scepter for Skattebo
This is the fifth consecutive week a Giants rookie has been nominated for the honor. Dart has been up for the award in each of the last three weeks since taking over as the starting quarterback, while Skattebo was also nominated in Weeks 2 and 3.
The other nominees are RB Ashton Jeanty (LV), WRs Matthew Golden (GB) and Tetairoa McMillan (CAR), and TE Tyler Warren (IND).
Buying or Selling Struggling NFL Teams in Most Likely to Turn Season Around | Bleacher Report
New York Giants (2-4): Selling. As great as the vibes are in New York right now, things are going to turn a lot tougher for this young offense in the coming weeks—starting with a trip to face the vaunted Denver Broncos defense in Week 7. Denver limited the New York Jets to a meager 82 yards on Sunday and piled up a whopping nine sacks in the process. Dart may fare slightly better than Justin Fields did, but it’s hard to envision the G-Men escaping Mile High with a win.
The reeling Philadelphia Eagles will be out for revenge in Week 8 too. If the heavily-favored defending Super Bowl champions achieve that result, the Giants will be looking at a 2-6 record that would have them well out of contention for a Wild Card spot at the midpoint of the campaign.
Top 15 NFL rookies through Week 6 | PFF
5. RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (82.1) Things were much brighter on the Giants’ side of the field, as Skattebo finished with a season-high 98 rushing yards on 19 carries. Sixty-seven yards of that total came in the second half, where he earned a 90.4 PFF rushing grade. He gained 64 yards after contact and rushed for three touchdowns on the night.
Skattebo picked up nine first downs, another top-10 rookie mark, forced four missed tackles and tallied four runs of 10-plus yards in the second half, including an 18-yard rumble midway through the fourth quarter. He finished the night with a 0% stuff rate and an 80.7 PFF rushing grade.
#BaldyBreakdown of Jaxson Dart’s performance against the Eagles
Jalin Hyatt credits Jaxson Dart for believing in him, thanks Giants fans for staying patient | New York Daily News
“I owe the fans a lot, man,” Hyatt said in a quiet moment. “I haven’t been playing my best ball these past three years, even when I had my opportunities. Even though if they’re a little [limited], I didn’t take advantage of them. I owe the fans everything. I owe Joe Schoen. I owe Coach Dab[oll], [receivers coach] Mike Groh. I owe all these guys, just for them to allow me to be back out there and [to say] ‘let’s get some passes to Hyatt.’ It brings a lot of confidence in myself. Now I gotta build off it.”
“You never know when your opportunity is coming,” Hyatt said. “It could be on 3rd and 4. It could be when we need it on fourth down. It could be when we gotta have it at the end of the game. I felt like in New Orleans, personally I felt I should have played better,” he said. “I had two [targets] in the fourth quarter where we kind of needed it and I didn’t come down with it.”
Top Risers: New York Giants (+1.9) A youth movement powered the New York Giants to a 17-point upset win as 7.5-point underdogs on Thursday Night Football, earning them the title of most improved team of the week. Rookie duo Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo combined for four touchdowns, with Dart leading the charge. He posted a 91.2 PFF grade, showcasing his dual-threat ability through the air and on the ground.
3. Brian Daboll, New York Giants (Previous ranking: third). Get ready for a roller-coaster ride of emotions as the Giants and Daboll try to get to the end of the season with co-owner John Mara in a better mood. Two weeks ago, Mara’s mood had to sour a bit when the Giants lost to the winless Saints. Then they came back and rode their two star rookies — quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo — to a Thursday night upset of the Eagles.
The schedule is still daunting but Dart, Skattebo, and a bunch of other talented young players have breathed a little bit of life into this franchise. It all will still come down to Dart and how well Daboll’s hand-picked quarterback develops. The better Dart plays, the more likely Daboll will be with the Giants in 2026.
8 (3 last week). New York Giants (2-4)
Average draft position: 9.6
FPI chance to earn No. 1 pick: 1.5%
FPI chance to earn top-five pick: 23.8%
FPI chance to earn top-10 pick: 63.0%
This week’s opponent
Drake Maye Is Having a Breakout Season, and What Else We Learned in Week 6 | FOX Sports
Broncos: Time to loosen the reins a bit on QB Bo Nix. The Broncos couldn’t run much against the Jets’ defensive front (a season-low 78 yards), so why didn’t he lean more on QB Bo Nix? He did in the first half when Nix was 15-of-20 for 125 yards and a touchdown. But in the second half Nix was just 4-of-10 for 49 yards and didn’t complete his first second-half pass until the fourth quarter. With the exception of a 326-yard outburst against Cincinnati two weeks ago, Nix has been little more than a game manager most of the season. But he showed last season that he’s capable of more than that. Payton wants to win with defense and a rushing attack, and that’s fine. But he should remember he can rely on Nix in the clutch, too.
Last year, Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. This year, Surtain says that honor should go to his teammate, Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto.
“It’s obviously an honor. Pat, he’s the best in the game right now,” Bonitto said. “What he did today was special. Every week we always go out to him to guard the best guy and we don’t hear from him ever again throughout the game. It’s a testament to him and obviously that’s a great honor just coming from him.”
Lesson learned: Don’t look now, but coach Sean Payton has a team powered by defense. The Broncos are 4-2 because of a defense that leads the league in sacks (30), defensive expected points added (31.43) and opposing QBR (43.5). Cornerback Pat Surtain II continues to vex the league’s top receivers, and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto is tied for the NFL lead in sacks (seven). Denver pressures across the defensive front and has the secondary depth to play any nickel or dime variations. The Broncos’ aggression has surrendered a big play or two — see Weeks 2 and 3 — but they have overcome their bobbles on offense and special teams with a playoff-worthy defense.
Around the league
Eagles OC Kevin Patullo: Communication from players has been very productive | Pro Football Talk
Cowboys ‘still in it,’ says Jones, who is open to defensive trade | ESPN.com
Peeling The Layers Back of Why Washington Can’t Stop The Run | Hogs Haven
NFL suspends Lions’ Brian Branch 1 game for postgame altercation vs. Chiefs | The Athletic
Titans firing Brian Callahan continues worrying rookie QB trend | SB Nation
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