5 keys for Giants to sustain momentum in the Jaxson Dart era
New York Giants' Jaxson Dart reacts after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: AP/Seth Wenig
Despite being 2-4, the Giants have life in their locker room. That’s what happens after a win like Thursday night’s over the Eagles, the franchise’s biggest since their first-round playoff victory at Minnesota in January 2023.
“You go through some tough times,” coach Brian Daboll said. “Sometimes you can get stronger from it or sometimes you can fold. I like our guys.”
The vibes are high thanks to rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo leading the way. But they can’t stop after this weekend fades.
Here are five things the Giants must do to keep it going.
1. Andrew Thomas must stay healthy
A quiet subplot of the Dart era? Andrew Thomas is looking dominant again.
According to Pro Football Focus, Thomas hasn’t allowed a single pressure in 86 pass-blocking snaps in the three games Dart has started.
It’s a big reason the Giants were anxious to get Thomas healthy. He was an All-Pro in 2022, the last time the Giants made the playoffs. From 2023-24, they were 6-10 in games in which he played. That’s not great, but it’s far better than the chunk of losing they did without him.
Also, his play is partly why Dart has been sacked only three times in the last two games after being sacked five times in his debut. If Thomas doesn’t have any setbacks, it will go a long way toward protecting Dart and keeping this offense going.
2. Sustain the solid run defense
Through the first four games, the Giants’ run defense ranked 29th in the NFL. It remained the obvious sore spot that it was last season, but that has changed dramatically in the last two games.
The Giants held Saquon Barkley to 58 rushing yards on Thursday night. That came after holding the Saints to 2.9 yards per carry last Sunday.
Sure, Barkley hasn’t been the same back he was in his dominant 2024 season. Saints tailback Alvin Kamara is 30 years old and not the same all-purpose threat he was before.
But it’s a start for the Giants, who were gashed for big runs in three of their first four games. They’ve limited the damage since then and need to keep it up.
3. Stay in good hands
Darius Slayton was sidelined Thursday, but he noted on X that the Giants still had playmakers on the field.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Jalin Hyatt did their part along with Wan’Dale Robinson. When Slayton returns from his hamstring injury, that level of play needs to continue.
Teams won’t be scared of the Giants going deep without Malik Nabers, but the receivers still need to show up and produce the way they did. They need Slayton and Robinson to prove their value as reliable veterans and Hyatt to show he deserves more snaps. Maybe Humphrey needs more reps, given his connection with Dart.
4. Figure out the kicking game
Lost in the hoopla of Thursday’s win was kicker Jude McAtamney missing an extra point. Jamie Gillan also missed the landing zone on the opening kickoff, gifting the Eagles great field position.
Kicking hasn’t cost the Giants . . . yet. With Graham Gano sidelined, the Giants can’t afford to have that part of their game slip away. The good news is McAtamney has made both field-goal attempts since taking over in Week 4. But in a close game, they need to trust that McAtamney can deliver.
5. Survive a brutal October
The Giants handled their first October obstacle, but there’s still spooky challenges ahead between now and Halloween.
The Giants’ next three games? At the Broncos. At the Eagles. At home against the 49ers. The Broncos are ranked in the top five in total defense and rushing defense. The 49ers have the NFL’s top-ranked offense entering Sunday.
Even if the Eagles looked dysfunctional and banged up, there’s no guarantee the Giants will pull off the season sweep. Dart’s lone road start, at New Orleans, was plagued by five turnovers.
It’s a daunting slate, but the Giants have something they didn’t have most of September: confidence. They’ll need it along with great execution.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
