What kind of advice would you offer a rookie quarterback for his first game in Philadelphia?
Darius Slayton couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought. He knows exactly what Jackson Dart will face this Sunday.
“If he doesn’t have haters now, trust me, he’ll get to know them. He’s going to meet all of them,” Slayton remarked.
Playing on the road can be brutal, and while Dart’s already played in intimidating places like New Orleans and Denver, what lies ahead is a whole different ball game.
All Giants players are aware of the intense atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field. The arrival of the team bus is often met with enthusiastic fans—decked out in green—who love to give the middle finger to Giants players, seeing them as outsiders.
Dart, who’s 22, didn’t seem like a rookie during his first four starts. His fifth game is set in a venue that has not been kind to the Giants historically.
Tight end Daniel Bellinger shared his thoughts: “Sure, you want to stick by your teammates in the locker room, but that team and their fans can be really tough on the sidelines. So, it’s important for us all to stay united. I’ll tell him to, ‘Just focus on yourself, keep your eyes on the team, and ignore the outside noise.’”
Of course, Dart won’t solve every issue the team faces. He left the field after scoring a touchdown with just 37 seconds to go, but it wasn’t enough to win against the Broncos, despite having put his team ahead.
The Giants’ history against the Eagles isn’t rosy. The last time they won in Philadelphia was back on October 27, 2013, and they’ve struggled ever since, losing 12 straight games there.
Dart can’t change what happened before, but he seems eager to carve out a fresh beginning for his team. He appeared unbothered, even excited about the upcoming match.
“It’s definitely going to be a tough match,” Dart stated. “Facing off against them feels like an SEC rivalry, and I can’t wait for the atmosphere. I know it’ll be intense, but honestly, I’m just excited.”
In an interesting twist of fate, just two weeks ago, the Giants pulled off a victory against the Eagles, winning 34-17—a moment that could be pivotal for the team. Due to an odd scheduling quirk, they’ll face off again in 17 days.
During his first encounter with the Eagles, Dart thrilled the anxious crowd at MetLife Stadium, helping the Giants achieve a rare moment of spectacular play. He had a standout run for a touchdown and showed impressive form as a passer, completing 17 of 25 attempts for 195 yards, including a memorable touchdown pass to Wan’Dale Robinson. Dart also contributed with 58 yards on the ground, finishing the game with a passer rating of 104.6, his highest so far this season.
Now, the rematch is looming—in a different setting.
Right tackle Jermaine Elemunah advised Dart: “You don’t need to change anything; just be yourself. Denver was an intense environment, and you saw what he was capable of there.”
Dart has shown he can handle the pressure.
“I mean, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn—all intense places. Do you want me to keep listing them?” he joked.
He seems keen on winning over the passionate fans in Philadelphia.
“It just intensifies the moment—it’s way more exhilarating to perform in front of hostile crowds than to play in silence.”
Hostility awaits him in Philadelphia.
