Christian Elliss Brings the Heat - and the Fallout - in Patriots’ Win Over Giants
Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss made his presence felt in a big way Monday night - and not just on the field. The hard-hitting defender delivered a pair of jarring blows that helped swing momentum in New England’s favor, and the ripple effects are still being felt days later.
Elliss, known for his physical play and special teams prowess, sparked a sideline scuffle in the first quarter after laying a punishing hit on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. Dart, scrambling down the sideline on a second-and-12, was trying to pick up a few extra yards when Elliss met him with force, sending the quarterback sprawling into the bench area.
That hit drew an immediate reaction from the Giants, who rushed to defend their signal-caller. Tight end Theo Johnson was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the aftermath.
“If it’s our guy, I want him going down or going out of bounds,” Elliss said Tuesday during a radio appearance. “But if that’s how he wants to play, then he’s a hard-nosed, tough guy - that’s just what’s gonna happen.”
Elliss didn’t stop there. In the second quarter, he was involved in a special teams collision that helped jar the ball loose from Giants returner Gunner Olszewski.
As Marte Mapu wrapped up Olszewski, Elliss came in to finish the play and delivered a helmet-to-helmet shot that left the returner shaken. Officials ruled the contact incidental, and no flag was thrown, but Olszewski exited the game with a head injury and did not return.
The hits - especially the one on Dart - generated plenty of buzz, and not all of it positive. Elliss admitted he and his family received “crazy messages” from Giants fans in the aftermath, but he stood by his style of play, emphasizing that quarterbacks need to protect themselves.
“Make sure to slide,” Elliss said, sending a clear message to opposing offenses.
Head coach Mike Vrabel had his linebacker’s back, calling both plays clean and within the rules.
“There’s nothing illegal about anything that he did,” Vrabel said. “There’s nothing dirty. It’s him playing football.”
Vrabel also praised Elliss’ commitment to the team, highlighting his impact on both defense and special teams - a unit Elliss takes great pride in.
“He’s a great teammate,” Vrabel added. “His teammates care deeply about him.
He cares about this football team. He’s got great relationships throughout the building with his coaches and obviously with his teammates.
That’s another special group, the linebacker group. Christian got us going.”
And that’s exactly what Elliss did - set the tone early and often, with physicality that walked the line but never crossed it. In a league where momentum can hinge on a single hit, Elliss delivered two.
The message to the rest of the league? If you’re going to challenge the Patriots, you’d better keep your head on a swivel - and maybe think twice before staying inbounds.