Week 6 for the New York Giants had them up against the former Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Philly came into town hungry to beat New York. The Giants lost their last seven Thursday night games going into this matchup. This game was also a huge test for rookie Jaxson Dart in his first primetime game.
Saquon Barkley started off the game hot, breaking multiple big runs including his longest run of the season.
Giants fans sat there in disgust as we all knew exactly what was going to happen Thursday night.
But boy, were we wrong.
The Giants embarrassed the Eagles in prime time. If you had told me that someone was going to score over 30 points in the game, I along with everyone in MetLife Stadium would have said the Eagles would.
The offense was clicking on all cylinders. Dart was able to find open receivers. The offensive line held their ground and gave Dart all day to throw. The defense forced multiple turnovers on Philly.
The duo of Dart and Cam Skattebo are the talents that Giants fans have waited too long for. The best way to describe the 23-year-old out of Arizona State is the Tasmanian Devil. The kid aims to run through defenders, rather than try to make them miss. He finished the night with 110 all-purpose yards and a trio of touchdowns to add on, becoming the second rookie in Giants history to score three rushing touchdowns in a game.
The chemistry Dart and Skattebo have just six weeks into the season that is unmatched. On the field they look like they have played together for five years.
Dart has made veteran level decisions to start the year. Yes, he did have a fluke fumble in the New Orleans game and a late interception. Other than that, this kid has made the right decisions or taken off if he doesn’t have an open receiver.
Dart understands the game and I truly believe he is the quarterback of the future for the New York Giants.
My one dislike from the game? It, for once, didn’t come from the Giants.
The tush push.
This nonsensical play isn’t football. Every time the Eagles run it, it seems like one or multiple players commit a false start. Watching the pile up on the line just for them to gain one or two yards every time just isn’t fun. Watching Skattebo bowl over multiple defenders to pick up that extra yard or two is something that every NFL fan can agree that it is much more entertaining than the tush push.
The Eagles ran this play not two, not three but four times in a row on Thursday. Replays showed the Eagles leave early for a false start, yet it is never called. Social media was blowing up about it. Many are calling for the play to be banned this offseason.
As a fan, the tush push isn’t fun to watch. Yeah, I get it, Eagles fans will say “just defend it better.” I can’t stress it enough: you jump offsides every play. How can we stop it if you break the rules? Your offensive line will lineup ahead of the ball as well as jump the gun. Also, what is there to watch? Just a pileup that lasts 10 seconds where you gain a yard or two? At least hand the ball to Barkley — it’s not like he’s your superstar running back or anything like that.
I apologize for the rant, but I have reached my limit with the tush push. It has to be taken out of football.
The Giants head to Denver for week 7 and then back to Philadelphia for week 8. If the Giants win both games, they will be on top of the NFC East, which is something Giants fans haven’t seen in a very long time.