Saturday in Buffalo wasn’t just another preseason game for the New York Giants. It was a statement. A 34-25 victory that had Giants fans reaching for their remote controls to double-check they were watching the right team.
After years of offensive struggles that made watching paint dry seem thrilling, Big Blue finally looked like they remembered how to move the football. Both the offense and defense had flashes to display some hope in the rookies they brought in from this past draft.
The Jaxson Dart Show Takes Center Stage
Let’s be real here, nobody expected much from a rookie making his NFL debut. But Jaxson Dart didn’t just show up; he showed out. The kid from Ole Miss looked like he belonged in the bright lights, completing 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown that had scouts frantically scribbling notes.
What made Dart’s performance special wasn’t just the numbers. It was the poise. You know that deer-in-the-headlights look most rookies get when they step onto an NFL field for the first time? Dart didn’t have it.
He moved in the pocket like a veteran, escaped pressure when he needed to, and delivered strikes with the kind of confidence that makes coaching staffs take notice.
“He did not look like a fish out of water,” was how one observer put it, and that might be the most accurate scouting report you’ll hear all preseason.
The touchdown pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey was pure poetry, the kind of throw that makes you lean forward in your seat and think, “Wait, did a Giants quarterback really just do that?”
The Offensive Line Finally Shows Some Fight
Here’s a stat that’ll make your jaw drop: The Giants attempted 57 pass plays and didn’t give up a single sack. Not one. When’s the last time you could say that about this franchise?
The offensive line, which has been the subject of more criticism than a reality TV show, suddenly looked competent. More than competent, actually, as they looked like they could protect their quarterbacks long enough for plays to develop.
Rookie Marcus Mbow stepped in at tackle and played like he’d been starting for years. In football, when you don’t hear a lineman’s name called, that’s usually a beautiful thing.
At halftime, you could hear the relief in general manager Joe Schoen’s voice when he said, “It’s been kind of quiet over there on the right side. It seems like Mbow is doing a good job.”
Abdul Carter Announces His Arrival
First-round picks are supposed to make immediate impacts, but even the most optimistic Giants fans probably didn’t expect what Abdul Carter delivered in his professional debut.
The rookie edge rusher got pressure on all three of his pass rush attempts, including beating Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins, a guy who made the NFL’s Top 100 list, not once, but twice. Carter’s 82.2 grade from PFF tells only part of the story.
This kid has that rare combination of athleticism and instinct that defensive coordinators dream about. When he lined up inside on one play and beat guard O’Cyrus Torrence clean, you could practically see defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s eyes light up thinking about the possibilities.
What This Really Means for September
Look, let’s pump the brakes a little bit. It’s one preseason game against a Bills team that wasn’t exactly throwing their best punch in the fourth quarter. But sometimes, you can see the foundation of something special being built, even in August.
The Giants scored 34 points, something they haven’t done since 2017, even in preseason. They completed 35 of 51 passes without an interception. They didn’t turn the ball over once. These might seem like basic football fundamentals, but they’ve been foreign concepts in East Rutherford for far too long.
The Real Test Comes Next
This week’s joint practices with the Jets will provide a better barometer of where this team actually stands. Division rivals don’t give you anything easy, even in practice. But if Saturday night proved anything, it’s that this Giants team might actually have some juice.
Brian Daboll’s decision to play his starters wasn’t just about getting them ready for September; it was about establishing an identity.
“There’s no substitute for playing the game,” he said, and he’s absolutely right. You can’t simulate the intensity of real football, even in preseason.
The Giants have 28 days until they open the regular season in Washington. If they can build on what they showed in Buffalo, this could be the year Big Blue finally remembers how to play winning football. The pieces are there with a potentially dynamic rookie quarterback, an improved offensive line, and a defense with serious playmakers.
Saturday night felt different. It felt like the beginning of something. Whether that something turns into victories when the games count remains to be seen, but for the first time in a long while, Giants fans have reason to believe again.
