Last week’s game against the Vikings left the Giants in tough spots. They lost 60% of their starting offensive line. Left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz both got injured. Also, left guard Jon Runyan was out due to a family matter but returned in time for this week’s game. Unfortunately, Thomas and Schmitz are now on injured reserve.
Adding to the challenges, second-year tight end Theo Johnson missed the game due to an illness.
During their match in Las Vegas, the Giants’ starting offensive line looked different. The lineup featured rookie Marcus Mbow, Jon Runyan, Austin Schlottmann, Greg Van Roten, and Jermaine Eluemunor.
In an interesting twist, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart started strong, connecting with wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson on the first play. It set a positive tone for the game.
Robinson was close to a milestone, needing just 99 receiving yards for his first 1,000-yard season. He hit that mark early in the third quarter, finishing with 11 catches for 113 yards, matching his personal best.
Dart had an impressive performance, completing 22 out of 30 passes for 207 yards and rushing for two touchdowns. He now has 22 total touchdowns in 11 games, ranking third among rookie quarterbacks in Giants history. He’s behind only Charlie Conerly (27 in 1948) and Daniel Jones (26 in 2019).
Interestingly, NFL Research revealed that Dart’s rushing touchdowns put him third for rookie QBs in NFL history, surpassing Buffalo’s Josh Allen (eight in 2018). The record is held by Cam Newton, with 14 rushing touchdowns in 2011.
The Giants got on the scoreboard with running back Devin Singletary’s one-yard touchdown run at the end of the first quarter, with defensive lineman Elijah Chatman leading the block. Now, the Giants have a total of 21 rushing touchdowns this season, tying with the 1950 and 2022 teams for second-most in franchise history since 1950.
This data shows how the team is evolving, even through challenges. The resilience of the players and the ability of rookies to step up may offer a glimpse of hope for the future.
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