Jaxson Dart's knee injury is a Giants bummer but still a big break for Big Blue

Dart not being carted off the field and some guarded halftime optimism from coach Jim Harbaugh suggested the injury wasn't a season-ending torn ACL. ESPN cameras also caught a brief exchange between Harbaugh and Giants head trainer Adam Bennett, in which simple lip-reading discerned that "MCL" and "out 4-6 weeks" was the information relayed. Later, Dart was even able to return from the locker room midway through the third quarter to stand on the sidelines in street clothes.

All things considered, the initial fear were allayed. Dart also wasn't hurt by running with reckless abandon. The Giants also are headed to have him back, maybe before the second half of the season.

The Giants got undue hype for upsetting an overrated Cowboys team at home in Week 1 with a near-perfect ball-control game plan. Facing the real Super Bowl-hyped Rams on the road was a reality check. Had Dart been in the game, the Giants might have been more competitive but he wouldn't have kept their defense from being gashed by run and pass all night.

The biggest goal in the Giants turning the page to the Harbaugh era is restoring some functional vibes. That's already happened, but they are still a young team with significant holes to keep them out of true playoff contention. The Giants can still well improve on a disastrous 3-14 final season during which former coach Brian Daboll was fired before the end.