Giants Slide in NFL Power Rankings After Dart Injury, Loss to Rams
The short version
- Jaxson Dart sprained his MCL on the opening series of the Giants' 28-6 loss to the Rams and is expected to miss time.
- The Giants (1-1) fell in most power rankings, ranging from No. 15 to No. 24 across national outlets.
- Backup Jameis Winston struggled in relief, and New York was outgained 481-182.
- Upcoming games against the Titans, Cardinals, and Commanders could offer a chance to stabilize.
New York fell in most national power rankings entering Week 3 after losing quarterback Jaxson Dart to a knee injury in Monday night's defeat.
The New York Giants fell in most national NFL power rankings entering Week 3 after a 28-6 Monday night loss to the Los Angeles Rams dropped them to 1-1. Quarterback Jaxson Dart sprained his MCL on the game's opening series and is expected to miss time, though the extent of his absence remains unclear.
The rankings spanned a wide range, from Walter Football at No. 15 to Josh Kendall of The Athletic at No. 24. USA TODAY's Nate Davis placed the Giants 17th, Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports had them 16th, and ESPN's NFL Nation ranked them 18th. Most analysts cited Dart's health as the deciding factor for the team's outlook.
Winston relieved Dart against the Rams and drew criticism for his accuracy, completing 5 of 12 first-half passes in a game New York was outgained 481-182. Analysts also noted the offense lost much of its dynamism without Dart's running threat, as Winston managed one yard on two rushes.
The loss tempered the optimism from the Giants' Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys, when Dart posted a 91.0 QBR from the pocket. theScore pointed to a friendlier upcoming schedule, with games against the Titans, Cardinals, and Commanders over the next three weeks.
