Looks like the Jaxson Dart coronation will have to wait a little while longer. An old guy named Russell Wilson isn’t ready to call it a day just yet.
The former Seattle Seahawks’ QB, who would be a surefire Hall of Famer were his name Manning or if he had played in New York or Dallas in his prime, reminded everyone what made him so special when he was slinging it for the Seahawks. Unfortunately, his one bad decision in an otherwise outstanding game led to a Giants’ loss. But until that point, it looked like 2013 all over again.
Playing on the road in Dallas, Wilson threw for 450 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He had an outstanding 12 yards-per-pass attempt. He even tossed in one of those backbreaking scrambles in the final minute that set up a go-ahead touchdown.
Russell Wilson turns back the clock in epic performance for the Giants
Wilson was not good at all in a Week 1 loss to the Washington Commanders. He hasn’t been especially good for several years now. The Giants invested a first-round draft pick in Dart, and he has looked like the next big thing since he arrived in the Big Apple. In the past week, it has appeared that the only person in New York who still believed in Wilson was Brian Daboll.
And Wilson himself.
With less than three minutes to go and his team down by four, Wilson connected with WanDale Robinson for a miracle fourth-down touchdown. 32 yards and a Giants’ lead.
Then, after the Cowboys grabbed the lead again, Wilson led a three-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a signature Wilson bomb to Malik Nabers. On the play before, he had scrambled for 15 yards to avoid a sack.
Unfortunately for the Giants, their defense could not stop Dallas from getting far enough downfield to allow the Cowboys' otherworldly kicker, Brandon Aubrey, to tie the game with a 64-yard field goal.
In overtime, Wilson made his one major mistake. He tried one final time to make a miracle play against heavy pressure by flinging the ball as far as he could downfield. It had worked a lot of times in the past, but this time, the only person in range was wearing a Cowboys jersey. The resulting interception led directly to another field goal from Aubrey, this time a game-winner.
There are going to be some fans who will focus on that final throw. It was a mistake, clearly. But the Giants didn’t lose this game because of their quarterback. On the road, as a major underdog, Wilson almost pulled it out with a great performance that recalled his glory days.
Jaxson Dart’s day is coming. Even Russell Wilson knows that. But he showed on Sunday that he can still dial up some magic. He may need a break or two – and maybe if the Giants could cut down on their 14 penalties, it would be a start – but Russell Wilson can still make enough plays to win games in the NFL.