LANDOVER, Md. — First, there’s Jaxson Dart.
That’s tough to handle.
Then, Brian Burns.
A significant loss for the defense and a hit to the team’s leadership—definitely not easy.
This one-two punch felt like a major blow, leaving gaps in both physical presence and talent.
What’s more concerning? The emotional toll of these losses might linger for a while.
The Giants might need some time to really process all of this.
But if anyone feels that way, they’re essentially on their own.
Sure, support is there, but there are no scheduled breaks for moping.
“I don’t really see it that way,’’ said Coach John Harbaugh. “For me, it’s about getting emotions out of the way. We have a game on Sunday. You have to be ready. It’s the NFL, and the opposing team won’t have any concern for your feelings. So, it’s all about being prepared. And the guys didn’t flinch, which is a good sign.”
Get ready, and fast.
That’s the message, and the Giants seem to be on board with their determined head coach.
Jameis Winston has been 2-0 in his starts since Dart’s injury, although it’s worth noting that those stats don’t show the full picture of how Winston has played. Still, a win is a win.
The defense has managed to come through with some late-game stands over the past two weeks.
There are indications that the defense might hold up without both Dart and Burns.
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Winston said, quite the phrase-maker. “Losing key players back to back can actually bring us closer. When we’ve lost our best players, we find ways to unite and support each other.”
However, relying on a backup for an extended period, like the last 15 games, isn’t the best path for sustained success.
The last time Winston enjoyed a winning streak as a starter was back in 2021 with the Saints, when he went 5-2.
His career record sitting at 38-53 poses questions as the Giants prepare to face the Commanders.
The acquisition of J.J. McCarthy wasn’t meant as a threat, but he’s definitely there if things don’t go as planned.
This week, the Giants will again contend with challenging weather—this time, remnants from Hurricane Isaias.
Winston managed to avoid turnovers in a rainy Week 3 win against the Titans, but he also didn’t score any touchdowns.
After dealing with quarterbacks like Cam Ward and Jacoby Brissett, the Giants are now up against Jayden Daniels, who had a solid rookie season but has faced injury setbacks.
Daniels is back after a dislocated elbow kept him sidelined for two games and will wear a protective brace.
He’ll also be missing key targets, like Stefon Diggs and perhaps Terry McLaurin, both dealing with hamstring issues.
This matchup continues a stretch that seems somewhat favorable for the Giants.
They currently sit alone atop a NFC East that appears—and this is an understatement—vulnerable, given their wins against teams with a combined 3-10 record.
Next up are the Commanders (1-3), Saints (1-3), and Texans (0-4), leading up to a bye week in Week 8.
Once again, the Giants were considered the underdogs, even facing a winless Titans team. And surprisingly, they find themselves as underdogs against the last-place Commanders.
Outside the organization, there’s skepticism about the sustainability of this success.
And what about inside the locker room?
“I believe there’s more we can do to avoid putting ourselves in stressful situations that nearly have the entire New York/New Jersey area on edge,” said guard Jon Runyan Jr. “We need to play more efficiently on offense so we don’t find ourselves in these tight spots. Both of our last games were closer than they should have been.”
