As expected, the New York Giants visited the New England Patriots and ended up losing 33-18. With that result, the Patriots improved to 11-2 and are now the leaders not only of their division but of the entire AFC. In addition, Drake Maye is currently the betting favorite to win MVP in just his second season.
Jaxson Dart surprises fans with an unforgettable moment of pure madness
The Patriots were dominant from the start and took advantage of several sloppy mistakes by the Giants to earn their tenth straight victory, their longest streak since 2015 under Mike Vrabel. Drake Maye delivered an impressive prime-time performance to continue boosting his MVP case: 24/31 passing for 282 yards and 2 touchdowns, with no interceptions.
Meanwhile, the Giants suffered their seventh straight loss, although Jaxson Dart had a solid outing in his return. New York struggled offensively, defensively, and especially on special teams. The franchise is already thinking about the roster they need to build around Dart for next season, particularly because they may end up with a Top-3 pick in the upcoming Draft.
Jaxson Dart once again surrounded by controversy
There’s no doubt the Giants have a true sensation in Jaxson Dart, a first-round pick and a major part of their future. The problem has been the hits he keeps taking. Three weeks ago, the Ole Miss rookie suffered a concussion in the loss to the Chicago Bears and missed the next two games, against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
Dart returned for Monday Night Football against the Patriots, and in the first quarter, while trying to pick up a first down, he accelerated forward when Christian Elliss of the Patriots came flying in and delivered a massive hit that sent Dart airborne and out of bounds. He was criticized afterward because he could have avoided the collision.
One day later, Dart was asked about the hits he takes and whether he would change his style of play. He responded with an incredible message, referencing two of the league’s biggest stars: “I watch quarterbacks who play kinda like me around the league – I watch how Josh Allen plays, I watch how Patrick Mahomes plays. They take hits too. I’m not an anomaly here.”, Dart said.
For now, the Giants need to focus on giving Jaxson Dart a better supporting cast. In his return after missing two games, he was the brightest spot for New York: 139 passing yards, 1 touchdown pass, a successful conversion, and-most importantly-he showed flashes of what he can become: an NFL superstar.