New York Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart delivers shocking self-evaluation after NFL preseason debut against Buffalo Bills originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
New York Giants fans are raving over the performance of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in the team’s 34-25 win over the Buffalo Bills. Despite fan excitement, Dart told head coach Brian Daboll he wasn’t satisfied with how he played.
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“That was mid, that was his response … He’s pretty hard on himself, I’ll say that.”
Dart evaluates his preseason debut
Dart’s preseason debut dominated social media discussions. He finished today’s game going 12/19 for 154 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 24 yards on three carries with zero sacks. While he impressed fans and media members, he wasn’t impressed in his own eyes.
“I just felt like the only reason that we stopped ourselves from scoring touchdowns were just some of those third downs and not converting … Personally, I’m really hard on myself. So in those moments, I want to capitalize on that. Those possessions in those crunch time situations really deter the game.”
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Despite completing several highlight-worthy throws, Dart seems hung up on a few missed opportunities during stalled drives.
“I feel like I can do a lot more, but I was happy with how the guys played around me.”
Based on his statement, there are two ways to evaluate the rookie quarterback’s mental state. On one hand, the mentality of never being satisfied with the bare minimum fosters attention to detail and gradual improvement. On the other hand, being overly critical after an exciting first game can lead to overanalysis and eventually frustration.
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Ultimately, we shouldn’t worry about Dart because this degree of motivation and self-awareness is found in the most competitive athletes.
Dart’s best moment from the day was the 28-yard touchdown pass he completed to Lil’Jordan Humphrey along the sideline early in the second quarter.
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He provided very insightful context on what he saw on the play and why he trusted his receiver in this narrow window that required pinpoint precision.
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“Me and [Humphrey] have been connecting a lot during training camp and whatnot. And he’s been a great contested catcher on go balls. So I liked my matchup one-on-one, and he was able to win over the top and make a great play.”
Overall, intentionality was present with everything that Dart said after the game. He made an effort to champion his teammates while bringing up the enthusiasm to improve.
“I’m excited to look back on the tape. Look at the things I can clean up … guys are making plays out there. It was good energy on the sideline, and hopefully we can continue to stack wins and get in the habit of it.”
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The Giants’ focus now shifts to their next preseason game against the New York Jets on Saturday, August 16. Hopefully, we get an even bigger dose of Dart.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.