Giants, Jaxson Dart hold off Chargers for first win, but Malik Nabers suffers significant knee injury
The Giants' Malik Nabers is carted off the field in the second quarter against the Chargers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Jaxson Dart’s starting debut at MetLife Stadium began with kisses to the crowd and a fist pump during player introductions. It continued through pain after he suffered a hamstring injury.
Yet the rookie quarterback was smiling as the final seconds ticked away on Sunday.
The Giants’ 21-18 win over the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers snapped a three-game losing streak to start the season and made Dart a winner in his first start.
According to ESPN, Dart is the sixth quarterback to lead a winless team over a team with a 3-0 record or better in his debut.
“It’s just a football game. That’s just the best way to describe it,” he said. “Obviously, this experience was a special one, being my first one, and I’m just grateful to have the guys around me that I had.”
It wasn’t pretty, with the offense gaining only 250 yards. It also was costly, with leading receiver Malik Nabers suffering a serious right knee injury and getting carted off in the second quarter. He will be examined Monday. Multiple reports said the team feared he tore an ACL, which likely would end his second season.
Dart made few mistakes, didn’t turn the ball over and did just enough, with the defense aiding him with two interceptions of Justin Herbert.
Coach Brian Daboll forcefully hugged Dart coming off the field before slapping his chest. He also told him, “Great [expletive] win!”
The Giants (1-3) had won only once in their previous 15 games before Sunday.
“For a young player to come out here in his first game, against a 3-and-0 team with Herbert as quarterback and the defense, the way they were playing,” Daboll said, “it says a lot about our guys and it says a lot about [No.] 6.”
Dart was 13-for-20 for 111 yards and ran for 54 yards on 10 carries. He was sacked five times, three by linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu.
The Giants’ new-look offense proved successful on the ground more than the air. They ran for 161 yards on 42 carries, their most carries in a game since they had 52 on Oct. 29, 2023. Rookie Cam Skattebo had 79 yards on 25 carries.
The plan worked to perfection on the Giants’ first drive. They ran the ball seven times and passed only twice, both completions to Nabers. Dart finished the drive with a 15-yard run up the middle for his first touchdown and followed it with a dance in the end zone as the Giants took a 7-0 lead.
Herbert had a rougher start. The Chargers (3-1) punted on their first two drives, and on the third, Herbert’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Giants lineman Dexter Lawrence. The 330-pound All-Pro tackle ran 37 yards to the Chargers’ 3 before Herbert tackled him.
“I thought I was going to score,” Lawrence said. “I knew he was going to go low, but I can’t catch my feet quick enough. Then I just went down.”
The interception led to a 10-0 lead after a 22-yard field goal by Jude McAtamney, playing in his second career game after Graham Gano was placed on injured reserve Saturday. McAtamney also made a 31-yard field goal.
Lawrence’s play set a tone as the Giants’ defensive line harassed Herbert. He was hit 12 times and Kayvon Thibodeaux sacked his former Oregon teammate on the second drive.
Nabers got hurt with 6:12 remaining in the first half. On a free play after the Chargers were called for a penalty, Nabers attempted to grab a sideline pass and planted his leg hard. He went up awkwardly and landed while grabbing his right knee.
“I didn’t think it was going to be that serious, honestly,” linebacker Brian Burns said. “My heart goes out to that kid. I’ve seen him work . . . I know his goals for the season. But Malik will be back better than ever.”
Herbert, who entered as the NFL’s only quarterback with multiple 300-yard passing games through three weeks, was held to a season-low 203 yards. He connected with Quentin Johnston on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds left in the second quarter to help cut the Giants’ lead to 13-10. But early in the third quarter, Herbert was picked off by Dru Phillips, whose 56-yard return set up Dart’s 3-yard TD shovel pass to Theo Johnson two plays later to make it 19-10. Skattebo ran in the two-point conversion for a 21-10 lead.
The Chargers cut it to 21-18 on the next drive as Omarion Hampton ran for a 54-yard touchdown and Herbert ran in the two-point conversion. But they didn’t get closer, and with 3:46 remaining, Burns had a critical third-down sack, his fifth of the season, to force a punt.
Four plays later, on third-and-5, Dart found Johnson for a 10-yard pass over the middle and a first down. It kept the clock running and the Chargers didn’t get the ball until there were 18 seconds left.
Two plays later, the game was over. Dart’s day ended with cheers after it started with a standing ovation when he took the field. The Giants have found hope after an 0-3 start.
“I was just staring at the clock and I was waiting for it to count down,” Dart said. “[Guard] Jon Runyan was right next to me and that was a cool moment to have. It was just special to get the first one.
“This is just the start.”
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.
