The Giants go (3-0) in the preseason, capping the campaign off with a 32-point win here. The G-Men scored 30+ points in each preseason game...and now have their fans, and their own organization in a tizzy over the prospects of this team.
It’s gonna be a rude awakening come ‘real’ Week 1 for NYG.
The Giants simply got lucky this preseason. Every week they drew a team not playing its starters, not really caring about the game itself seemingly...while the Giants went ‘hard in the paint’ playing starters for longer stretches than about any team did in the preseason.
Also, the Giants have a unique situation with having four NFL QBs on the roster...with their #3 QB (Jameis) being a legit NFL starter. And while all their opponents used all backups and guys about to be cut at QB to face them, the Giants had NFL starters (of some degree) going at #3 (Winston) and #4 (DeVito) QB. NYG’s #4 QB, Tommy DeVito, would be the best QB over any QB the Giants faced this preseason. Which is great for the preseason wins-losses, but it's not real for the regular season.
NYG drew the Bills in Week 1, and Buffalo mails in the preseason and has bad non-#1 QBs playing...and yet Buffalo played pretty evenly with NYG with the Bills leading in the 4th-quarter, but some luck went NYG’s way late for the eventual win.
Week 2, the Jets held out their starting defense (their best feature), while Russell Wilson almost played a full half of football (for some reason)...and yet the Giants barely led the game at the half. It was the 2nd-half NYG QB crew that led to the big victory.
This game, the white hot (for the preseason) Patriots went with their backups...they started a UDFA rookie QB with their 3rd/4th-string offense to start and finish the game versus the NYG backup QB (#2-3-4 QBs) crew...and once again NYG barely led at the half, but the 2nd-half QB crew stomped a mud hole in the Pats to-be-cut players and thus the Giants got their undefeated preseason.
But don’t tell the Giants fans any of this...they are already going full ‘Danny Dimes’ on their possession of Jaxson Dart. Let them have their moment. Let them enjoy ‘Danny Darts’ as long as they can...like their temporary fervor for the original savior, Daniel Jones, so many years ago.
Colts fans are not as enthusiastic about their ‘Indiana Jones’ prospects...
The Giants have a good base of talent, but they unfortunately have Philly and Washington in the division...and a terribly tough schedule to navigate. The Giants could win the AFC South this year, but probably finishes last in the NFC East this season.
Player Notes...
-- Giants QB report...
The song remains the same for Jaxson Dart (6-12 for 81 yards, 1 TD/0 INT)...his first drive was a TD drive, with a couple of throws made under no pressure from a 2nd/3rd-team defense. Everyone celebrated the quick score. But then the Pats defense started getting after Dart a little and the incompletions and miss-fires began.
Dart looks solid enough this preseason but so have all the ‘meh’ rookie QBs with lots of college experience when they face vanilla 2nd/3rd-team defenses with tons of time to throw. The good news is...Dart didn’t look terrible in these situations, that’s what you want to see -- don’t fail against this easy scenario. Doing OK against this easy backdrop is now ‘the norm’ for rookie/young QBs. I don’t think any of us scouts can judge Dart properly from what he got to do/play against in the preseason. Dart looked confident enough, but I didn’t see him zipping ‘wow’ passes all over the field...but I did see a few trouble moments when he did get some pressure. I’m still anti-Dart after this preseason...anti-that he’ll ever be a star.
Jameis Winston (4-8 for 47 yards, 1 TD/1 INT) entered the game after Dart ran from the pocket and was strolling down the field and a Patriots linebacker blew him up and knocked him out of the game. These rookie QBs haven’t even been sacked or hit yet in the pocket...we don’t know how they’ll react when the 7-on-7, two-hand touch game turns into an 11-on-11 war...a war where the Giants have no great protection for their QBs. Winston always boosts the team with his instant energy and leadership...the best #3 QB in the league, hand’s down.
Then Tommy DeVito (17-20 for 198 yards, 3 TDs/0 INTs) came in the 2nd-half and looked terrific...I mean, look at the stat line. BUT he’s not a favored Brian Daboll rookie given to him by all his buddies coaching at Ole Miss, so DeVito looking better than any NYG QB this preseason in this spot...it gets no New York Post ostentatious headline anymore. DeVito already had his New York fans’ hype moment...like Daniel Jones did for a few weeks years ago...like Dart is having now...like the next NYG QB in two years will, and the beat goes on and on.
-- We got to see the Cam Skattebo (3-12-0) debut here, finally...and...I still don’t get it. I mean, it could be solid enough. We only got to see a few generic handoffs and a couple of untargeted routes run. He looks like a random fullback in the backfield, from the size to the movements. If you told me it was Joe Martinek back there, I would have believed you.
Every time Skattebo appears or is mentioned, the first thing any football analyst says is...’did you see that bowl/college playoff game he had?’ I feel Skattebo is living off that moment, and anything critical about how he’ll transition to the NFL is ignored because of it. He may be fine...I just don’t/didn’t really see ‘it’ here. But it’s still early.
-- NYG pass game back weapon, Dante Miller (3-12-0/3) completed the preseason with a perfect 14 catches on 14 targets. So, enjoy the practice squad! If only you had a big game on a college playoff TV show, then you might matter for 2025...
-- Patriots WR report...
Likely, every WR forced to play in this game for NE is going to be cut. The Pats have 7 WRs likely locked in, who did not play in this game...
Diggs-Hollins-Douglas will start.
Boutte-Kyle Williams-Chism-Bourne will back them up.
But there is some hope for the WRs who played in this game that the Patriots will likely cut Kendrick Bourne, because it’s fiscally responsible to do so...and then the 49ers will scoop him up.
The one WR who played in this game, for NE, that can make the roster but probably will head to the practice squad is 2nd-year UDFA John Jiles (3-16-0/6). Jiles has a decent preseason, and I maintain he’s a legit NFL hopeful needing more development.
A 2024 WR draft pick Javon Baker (0-0-0/2) likely gets cut. Another last year draft pick, Ja’Lynn Polk probably would’ve been cut too but he got hurt and put on IR.
-- Giants receiver report...
Jalin Hyatt (3-38-1/6) played for a while in this game. He used his speed, and pushing off CBs (with penalties never called), to get open and made a couple catches, including a 27-yard TD catch (from Winston). He looked OK but mostly is playing like a one-trick-pony, speedster on the outside guy. I’m not seeing any new elements to his game, but I don’t know if it’s him or the way they use him. He’s set to be the #4-5 WR.
Veteran WR/KR-PR Gunner Olszewski (3-68-0/3) looks more energized and impactful as a WR than Hyatt, but Gunner is a slot-type WR...who won’t get a real chance at WR. But kudos to how good of a preseason he had.
Rookie TE Thomas Fidone (4-39-1/5) has totally captivated my attention. Where was this guy at Nebraska? Smooth movements, excellent receiving hands...brings the ball in so well...great range/wide target. Theo Johnson will have some competition in 2026 and beyond, especially if there is a new regime in place.
Beaux Collins (0-0-0/4) couldn’t follow up his splash play from Week 2, a play that got tongues wagging among the fanbase. Collins was blanked here...bad targets and at least one drop.
-- IDP Notes...
Kyle Dugger (6 tackles, 2 PDs) was forced to play here, so he definitely lost the starting job this season. Jaylinn Hawkins is set to start for the Pats with Julius Peppers at safety. Dugger is more likely to be traded than be a backup here.
Keion White (2 tackles) played in this game as well. He has been moved to OLB, from DE, and is listed as a backup now.
Cordale Flott (1 PD) played in this game for NYG...which likely means he lost the battle to Deonte Banks for the #2 outside CB spot.
