In the second game of the season, Russell Wilson had one of the best games of his career, throwing for 450 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. The next week, he faced the Kansas City Chiefs and posted a performance that can best be described as bland.
Now, after his New York Giants went without scoring a touchdown, Wilson has found himself without a job. Well, without a starting job anyway. Head coach Brian Daboll has made the decision to make first-round draft pick Jaxson Dart the new starting quarterback, thus moving up the timetable quite a bit.
Dart will go in tough for his maiden voyage. He’ll throw his first NFL pass against the Los Angeles Chargers in a game that is slated to begin at 1 PM ET at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.
The Chargers have done a nice job thus far, posting a 3-0 record against AFC West rivals Kansas City, Las Vegas and Denver.
Pro football betting odds on the Chargers-Giants game
At BetUS, the Chargers are laying some points on the road:
Los Angeles Chargers -6.5 (-105)
New York Giants +6.5 (-115)
Over 44 Points -105
Under 44 Points -115
Did the Giants panic by benching Wilson?
Well, yes and no. On the one hand, it’s kind of early in the season to make this decision, because after all, the team lost a game (to Dallas) that they very easily could have won, and lost two games to teams that were among the league’s “final four” (Washington and Kansas City).
On the other hand, they probably felt going into the season that they were only going to get so far with Wilson, or for that matter, Jameis Winston. We pretty much know what we have with those guys. Perhaps this is an attempt on the part of the Giants to find an “upside,” in that they don’t know how much Dart can actually do.
Are the Giants looking for a big upgrade?
Anyone who was watching the Sunday night game against the Chiefs could hear the announcers touting the fact that everyone in the building was extremely excited about Dart. It has been that way from the beginning, and even before thst, when he was interviewing with the coaches. Dart was the guy they liked, and the team traded into the first round to get him. So the future starts now.
What is the status of the head coach and general manager?
Let’s be honest – this may also be a move to help Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen hold onto their jobs.
They have been on the hot seat – there is no secret about that. Right now, at 0-3, there would be a good chance for a season steeped in mediocrity. But with Dart stepping into the picture, there is now the opportunity to be able to point to progress on the part of the offense, especially if Dart is bringing some real spice to the effort.
And then Daboll can buy himself some time while shepherding a work in progress and Schoen can take some credit for having a good draft. And don’t kid yourself – with Dart, Cam Skattebo and Abdul Carter, that constitutes the making of a VERY good draft.
So what will happen in the Giants-Chargers game?
Of course, this process may have to take baby steps. Dart has entered games a few times but has yet to throw a pass. He will have access to the full playbook, though the coaches won’t turn him completely loose. The Chargers have run the ball on only 46% of their plays, and while Justin Herbert continues to play efficiently, rookie Omarion Hampton hasn’t delivered many big plays. To make matters worse, RB Najee Harris will miss the rest of the season.
The Chargers, even at 3-0, are only 22nd in yards per point (15.5). The Giants are right down near the bottom (30th, at 19.6). We won’t be looking for a scoring festival.
THE PLAY: UNDER 44 POINTS
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