Jaxson Dart Makes History in Three Starts as Giants Beat Eagles
Thursday night brought a moment that Giants fans will replay for years: Jaxson Dart, in only his third NFL start, joined an exclusive club that includes Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. After New York’s 34-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL’s stat trackers highlighted a trio of remarkable milestones Dart achieved in a remarkably short window. The takeaway for many is simple: the hype around Dart is not just noise, but a conversation rooted in rare moments of early career promise.
Opening-Drive Touchdowns: A Rare Feeing of Immediate Impact
One of the headline notes from the league office is that Dart became the second quarterback since at least 1991 to guide his team to an opening-drive touchdown in each of his first three career starts. That feat, while it might sound procedural, signals a quarterback who can set the tone for a game and repeatedly silence first-quarter critics with precision and poise. Dart’s ability to orchestrate quick scoring drives is a skill that separates rookies from potential pros over the long arc of a season.
How Dart’s Path Differs from Mahomes
Comparisons to Patrick Mahomes are inevitable in any quarterback who looks capable of redefining how a team attacks offensively. But Dart’s rookie arc is different from Mahomes’ at a similar stage. Mahomes began his surge with a late-season spot start in Week 17 of the 2017 season and then created a steady run of productive games in 2018. Dart, meanwhile, has carved a path crafted in real time—part improvisation, part play-extension—within a Giants offense that has leaned heavily on extending plays and exploiting rushing opportunities.
Rushing as an Equalizer: Dart’s Dual-Threat Impact
One of the defining traits of Dart’s quick ascent is his rushing ability. Across three starts, he has tallied 167 rushing yards on 30 attempts, delivering two rushing touchdowns. The 19-yard scoring run against the Eagles is emblematic of how Dart’s athleticism changes how defenses must defend him, creating space for play-action and extending plays for receivers downfield. In the modern NFL, a quarterback who can influence a game with his legs adds a layer of unpredictability that defenses must respect—timely mobility that often translates into sustained offensive momentum.
A Snapshot of the Rookie Moment: Matching Hurts and Jackson’s Early Feats
Dart’s performance has placed him in a conversation with Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson in one specific category: rookie quarterbacks who can win against reigning Super Bowl MVPs in primetime. Dart’s achievement of defeating a top-tier defender in his first three starts showcases not just talent, but the mental fortitude to execute in high-pressure environments. It’s a benchmark that invites optimism but also demands caution—rookie trajectories can be volatile, and long-term consistency remains the ultimate barometer.
What This Means for Giants Fans and the Season Ahead
For Giants fans, these early milestones provide a rare moment of shared excitement after years of quarterback uncertainty. The team has deliberately leaned into Dart’s dual-threat profile, a strategy that could pay dividends as the schedule progresses and opponents adjust to his skill set. While the grand arc of Dart’s ceiling is far from determined, the immediate impact is undeniable: a quarterback who can create offense on his own and make opening drives meaningful from week to week.
Ultimately, Dart’s three-start run has sparked a conversation about potential, rather than a conclusion about his ultimate place in the pantheon of greats. As with any young passer, the real test will come from continued development, smarter decision-making, durability, and sustained success against a wider slate of opponents. Giants fans will be watching closely, hoping this is the start of something special rather than a bright, but brief, early flash.
