One hit changed the Giants’ season. Jaxson Dart will miss the rest of the regular season after injuring his knee against the Rams, leaving Jameis Winston to start with 15 games still on the schedule. John Harbaugh has left open the possibility of a playoff return for Dart, but New York has to get there first. Giants injury update
I’m not writing off Harbaugh or the talent on this roster. The Giants showed against Dallas that they can control a game with physical football. They rushed for 165 yards in that win. Cam Skattebo had 81, but Dart contributed 54. Without Dart’s legs, defenses have one less threat to account for, and Skattebo could see tougher running lanes. Against the Rams, he managed 36 yards on 12 carries. Giants team stats
Winston can make throws and win games. The concern is the length of the assignment. New York needs him to lead the offense for nearly an entire season, and his first appearance this year offered little reassurance: 11 completions on 27 attempts, 111 yards, one interception and no touchdowns in a 28–6 loss. Harbaugh can build a game plan around Winston’s strengths, but that work has to show up quickly. Giants injury update
Look at the remaining schedule. Tennessee, Arizona and Washington are the three teams I can see the Giants beating; they play the Commanders twice. That gives New York four winnable games, but it doesn’t give them four wins. After the Saints game, the schedule includes the Eagles twice, the 49ers, Seahawks, Lions and Cowboys.
S³ outlook:My first call was 5–12. Now that looks optimistic. To reach it through those four winnable games, the Giants would have to win every one. Harbaugh could still engineer an upset, and Winston could play better with a full week of preparation. That’s the Giants’ path to shocking people. It’s a steep one without Dart.
