Giants Hit Rock Bottom in Primetime, as Rookie Frustrations Boil Over
The New York Giants walked into Monday night with a glimmer of optimism. They had just gone toe-to-toe with the Lions in a close loss, and there was some hope that momentum might carry over. But instead of a bounce-back, they got bulldozed by the 11-2 New England Patriots, falling 33-15 in a game that felt even more lopsided than the score suggests.
And while the loss itself was ugly, the real story came after the final whistle - and it had everything to do with the Giants’ two first-round rookies, Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart. Their postgame comments didn’t just raise eyebrows - they put a spotlight on a team that’s clearly struggling with accountability, leadership, and culture.
Abdul Carter: Talent Still Waiting to Show Up
Let’s start with Carter. The No. 3 overall pick came into the season with sky-high expectations.
He was supposed to be the kind of defensive cornerstone the Giants could build around. But through 13 weeks, the production just hasn’t matched the promise - and Monday night was another chapter in a frustrating rookie campaign.
Carter was benched for the second time in three weeks, reportedly due to missing a team responsibility. When asked about it after the game, his initial response was short and sharp:
“Shit happens.”
Not exactly the accountability coaches want to hear from a top draft pick. To his credit, Carter did eventually open up and take some responsibility:
“I let my team down today… the first two drives, I was out, they scored 17 points, I gotta be out there. I take responsibility for that, I gotta be better.”
That’s a start - but actions speak louder than words. And for Carter, the pattern is starting to become a concern.
Missing meetings and team responsibilities isn’t just a rookie mistake - it’s a red flag, especially when it happens more than once. In a league where preparation is everything, especially for young players learning the speed and complexity of the NFL, showing up matters as much as showing out.
Carter did notch his first full sack of the season on Monday night - a small step in the right direction - but it came with the game already slipping away. For a player who made headlines in the offseason by asking for legendary Giants jersey numbers (like Lawrence Taylor’s 56 and Phil Simms’ 11), the on-field impact hasn’t come close to matching the off-field noise.
Jaxson Dart: Electric, Tough - and Maybe Too Tough for His Own Good
Then there’s Jaxson Dart, the rookie quarterback who’s brought flashes of brilliance to an otherwise bleak season. His playmaking ability is real, and his toughness is undeniable. But his playing style is starting to worry the Giants - and for good reason.
Dart has taken a beating this season, and most of it isn’t on the offensive line. He’s inviting contact as a runner far more often than a franchise QB should. That’s how he ended up with a concussion in Week 10 after a big hit against the Bears - a hit that sidelined him for two games.
During those two weeks, the message from the Giants was clear: Dart needs to protect himself. Coaches, teammates, and staff all echoed the same sentiment - he’s too valuable to keep putting himself in harm’s way.
But in Week 13, it was déjà vu. Dart took another big hit early in the game, this time with a clear path to the sideline.
He could’ve avoided contact. He didn’t.
After the game, Dart didn’t back down. In fact, he doubled down:
“This is football. … I’ve played this way my entire life.
… We’re not playing soccer out here. … Turn on my high school tape.
Turn on my college tape. This is not a shocker to anybody.”
It was a surprising moment from a player who’s typically been measured and accountable in front of the media. Dart’s confidence and edge are part of what make him such a compelling young quarterback. But there’s a fine line between toughness and recklessness - and right now, he’s straddling it.
The Giants don’t want to take away what makes Dart special. But they do need him to be smarter. You can’t lead a franchise from the trainer’s table, and the hits he’s taking could shorten his career before it really gets going.
A Team in Search of Identity
At 2-11, the Giants are heading into their bye week with more questions than answers. The record speaks for itself, but the deeper issue is what’s happening inside the building.
When your top rookies - the ones you’re counting on to be the future - are making headlines for all the wrong reasons, it’s not just about talent. It’s about culture.
This bye week isn’t just a breather. It’s a reset button.
The Giants need to regroup, refocus, and start laying the foundation for something better. That means accountability, from the top down.
That means rookies acting like pros. And that means a locker room that’s pulling in the same direction.
There’s still time for Carter and Dart to turn things around - both have the tools to be difference-makers in this league. But talent alone won’t get it done. The NFL is a grown man’s league, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Giants have four games left to show signs of life. If they want to build something real, it starts with their young core buying in - not just on Sundays, but every day of the week.