The New York Giants got their first win of the 2025 NFL season, 21-18, over the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.
You can call it a Pyrrhic victory if you like, as it came at a heavy cost. Star wide receiver Malik Nabers is likely out for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury.
Most of the team performed well, and the Giants actually played with some meaning and purpose. Here’s how we graded the essential units in Sunday’s win.
Offense
The Jaxson Dart era got off to a roaring start, as the rookie led the Giants on an 86-yard touchdown drive to open the game. His passing numbers — 13-of-20 passing (65.0%) for 111 yards and a touchdown — weren’t anything to speak of, but he rushed 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdown, which energized the offense. More to come on his performance.
Running back Cam Skattebo had 90 total yards and scored a two-point conversion. Still two-for-five in the red zone, one-for-three in goal-to-go situations, and 250 yards of offense usually leads to a loss. The longest pass play of the day was an 18-yarder to Darius Slayton. The injury to Malik Nabers put a crimp in the passing game for sure.
Hey, it’s a start.
Grade: B
Defense
The Chargers’ offensive line came into the game banged up and with two key players out. They lost star tackle Joe Alt early on, and the Giants pounced. They were all over quarterback Justin Herbert. Linebacker Brian Burns finished with five total tackles, four QB hits, one tackle for loss, and a sack. Rookie linebacker Abdul Carter had five QB hits, and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux had three QB hits and a sack.
Nose tackle Dexter Lawrence finished with just one tackle, which was for a loss, but recorded his first career interception and returned it 37 yards, nearly scoring a touchdown. Cornerback Dru Phillips had two stops, four passes defensed, and returned an interception 56 yards.
The Giants pitched a shutout in the fourth quarter, something they haven’t done in quite some time. It led to a win.
Grade: A
Special teams
Jude McAtamney ended up handling the kicking duties after a dalliance with Younghoe Koo this week. Not much was asked of him, but he hit all of his kicks, two short field goals, and an extra point. Jamie Gillan averaged 48.8 yards per punt with a long of 69 and landed three inside the 20. Nice job.
The Giants may have found another use for cornerback Deonte Banks. He averaged 27 yards on two kickoff returns.
The only real flaw is that two of McAtamney’s kickoffs went into the endzone for a touchback, which likely wasn’t planned or desired.
Grade: A-
Coaching
Head coach Brian Daboll knows his seat is getting hot. The switch to Dart at quarterback was a wise one, as it gives him a reprieve for at least this season. The Giants still stink in the red zone and have yet to figure some things out, however. They can get to 2-3 with a win over the hapless Saints this week, which will further solidify his job status.
But the fact of the matter is this team is still underperforming. They have a lot to clean up. That is quite a burden to put on the shoulders of Dart, who will be without Nabers going forward.
Grade: B
