Kirk Herbstreit said it last Thursday night as the New York Giants were putting the finishing touches on an upset road win over the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, “You don’t want to overreact but you have to acknowledge the kid has won three games in a row.”
You are right. We don’t want to overreact, and for the record, Giants rookie quarterback Jaxon Dart has not won three games in a row. His first start was at home against the Los Angeles Chargers, and New York slugged out a 21-18 victory as a point spread underdog. The game Herbstreit was announcing for PRIME on Thursday night with broadcast partner Al Michaels was the second win for Dart. But between the 34-17 Thursday Night Football victory and his first start, Dart lost in New Orleans to the Saints, 26-14, while turning the ball over five times and handing the home team their only win of the season.
Michaels didn’t correct Herbstreit on air, he knew that comment was in the moment and caught the wave of enthusiasm for the Giants first round draft choice and maybe great find. But as I am prone to do, I don’t let mistakes slide. In my business, they can cost money.
I do find it a little more than ironic that Herbstreit was warning his viewers not to overreact while, well, while he was.
So, Dart is off to a solid start as the new Giants starter. Three starts, two wins, do you know how many Giants quarterbacks have compiled a winning record since they won the Super Bowl to complete the 1990 season?
I’ll give you time to add them up.
One. Eli Manning.
Is Dart the next to grant New York fans relief from years of dismal season results?
Maybe.
Has he won three in a row?
No.
Will he keep a winning record intact after this week?
No.
The Giants have had a long time to celebrate their surprise victory over the Eagles, and they will no doubt carry that enthusiasm onto the field this Sunday when they visit the Denver Broncos at Mile High stadium. I suspect the problem is that the Giants enthusiasm is on their past win, while the Broncos are focused on this week’s game.
Denver is returning from London, where they suffocated the New York Jets offense in a 13-11 International Game win. Talk after that game was mostly centered on how bad the Jets offense played, they had a net minus 10 passing yards on the day. How do you do that? You pass for 45 yards and get sacked for 55.
What we had in London was a combination of a bad Jets offense and a stout Denver defense. The Broncos are also in a situation where their early season hopes that the Kansas City Chiefs may drop out of the playoff hunt early were dashed Sunday night when Andy Reid’s men won their second straight game to pull within one of both the Chargers and Broncos in the competitive AFC West Division race.
In other words, perhaps the best defense in the league is inspired to challenge the hot quarterback the Giants roll into town with. A challenged better defense needing a win to remain ahead of the Chiefs and not fall behind the Chargers is a lethal combination.
Yeah, Sean Payton will have his team ready, and Dart won’t escape with a winning record.
Qoxhi Picks: Denver Broncos (-7) over New York Giants