New York Giants rookie quarterback sensation Jaxson Dart is giving fans something to look forward to for the first time in a long time.
The G-Men decisively defeated the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday night, 34-17, snapping an eight-game losing streak against NFC East opponents. It was also just the second time during their last eight matchups that New York was able to defeat Philly.
Dart was clearly the story on the night as he passed for 195 yards, a passing touchdown to Wan'Dale Robinson, and a 20-yard rushing score, all coming without the Giants' top wide receivers, Malik Nabers (torn ACL) and Darius Slayton (hamstring). With this dominant performance, the 22-year-old was deservingly recognized by Pro Football Focus.
Pro Football Focus names Jaxson Dart their Rookie of the Week
PFF's Gordon McGuinness handed out his Week 6 grades and awards to those deserving. And when it came time to award his Rookie of the Week, the former Ole Miss standout was given that honor:
"Dart delivered the best performance of his young career as the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football," McGuinness wrote. "He avoided any turnover-worthy plays and earned PFF grades above 80.0 both as a passer and a runner, showcasing poise and dual-threat ability in the prime-time win."
The 25th-overall pick was pretty much everything the Big Blue and its fans hoped for when they traded back into the first round to select him. His arm talent and ability to scramble to keep plays alive — while looking the part — have been something fans have long been waiting for out of a franchise quarterback.
Dart has also brought a whole new energy to the team, with the win over the Eagles being one of the biggest reasons why. In just three starts thus far, Dart has already tossed four touchdowns and has completed over 65% of his passes. The hype around the rookie from training camp and his impressive preseason performance is real and can’t be ignored.
Vibes around this Giants team haven't been this high in a long time. After being named Rookie of the Week by PFF, this would surely only motivate Dart to play even better for the rest of the season and potentially see more highly coveted awards come his way.