The firing of Brian Daboll adds an intriguing angle to Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants. Will the Giants have a rallying cry after they dismissed the head coach?
A lot of that will hinge on the status of rookie phenom Jaxson Dart. His availability will determine Green Bay’s entire approach to the game.
Jeff Hafley’s defense has done well against dual-threat quarterbacks the past two years. On Monday night, the Packers held Jalen Hurts to 27 rushing yards on five attempts. In Week 2, they held the ever-elusive Jayden Daniels to 17 rushing yards on seven attempts.
It’s been a theme for Hafley’s group, and a good one at that.
With Dart under center, there’s a true run-pass option at quarterback for the Giants — one of the best in the business. Against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dart ran for two touchdowns before exiting in the second half with a concussion. It marked the fifth game in a row that Dart had a rushing touchdown, breaking an NFL record that Dart previously held with Cam Newton.
Dart isn’t just a small threat as a runner. He occasionally looks like a running back. With that sort of play style comes the increased concern about injuries like the one he suffered against Chicago.
The rookie out of Ole Miss didn’t make his start until Week 4. Despite that, Dart has been sacked 21 times and has been tackled another 47 times on rushing attempts. It’s an alarming pace for any quarterback. At some point, the Giants will need to have that talk about sliding more and avoiding contact.
Despite boasting a damn good defense, the Packers will have their hands full preparing for Dart if he’s cleared to go. In seven starts, Jaxson Dart has five games with at least 54 rushing yards. Only the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles (the second time around) were genuinely able to bottle Dart up in the ground game. Even then, he had a rushing touchdown against both. In the game against the Broncos, Dart threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns.
Even without rookie sensation Cam Skattebo at running back and superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers — who are both out for the year due to injury — Dart hasn’t just made hay with what’s left around him. He’s flourished as a rookie who looks to be a star in the making.
Green Bay has faced far more complete units like the Detroit Lions and the Eagles. They have faced plenty of dual-threat quarterbacks over the past two years under Hafley as defensive coordinator. But they haven’t really seen a reckless runner at quarterback like Dart, and I mean that as a compliment to the young signal caller.
With Dart, there’s a lot more the Packers have to be cognizant of defensively. Without him, well, we all saw how it looked with Russell Wilson when he came in for the injured Dart against the Bears. However, the Giants announced on Wednesday that Jameis Winston would get the nod if Dart doesn’t go on Sunday. Like Wilson, Winston isn’t much of a running threat and certainly isn’t at all to the degree that Dart is.*
With no Skattebo or Nabers, the offense revolves around Dart to succeed in the passing and running games. Winston isn’t a complete statue, but he’s not a threat to beat you with his legs like Dart is. Having Winston under center against the Packers would not only change the preparation but also would give Green Bay less to worry about.*
In the lead-up to the game against Chicago, Jaxson Dart was asked about finding a happy medium between playing his style and being smart about avoiding too many hits when he becomes a runner.
That’s definitely something that when you watch the tape back on, you try to think of those moments where you can save your body, a hit or not. At the same time, it’s really hard for me in those moments because I just want to compete. Ultimately, I just want to score.
In typical Dart fashion, he followed up by saying he’s going to play the game the way he wants. It’s admirable in theory, but can also lead to what’s happened this year: Dart ending up in concussion protocol four separate times.
Green Bay will likely do what most do in this spot: prepare for Dart to be the guy, while also keeping in mind the chance that Wilson could be under center. Guessing as to who it will be wouldn’t be wise, and Hafley strikes me as the type to prepare for everything.
Dart has been a sight for sore eyes for Giants fans. He’s emerged as a great hope for the Giants, who have finally found their next franchise quarterback after searching for just that since Eli Manning retired in 2020.
If Dart is good to go on Sunday, it will be a terrific challenge for a Packers defense that has been nails for most of the year.
*This story has been updated to reflect that Winston will start if Dart cannot play on Sunday.
