Now that the Giants’ 2025 schedule is out, let’s ponder one of the biggest questions they could face this season.
When might prized rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart replace Russell Wilson, a fading veteran?
Remember, the hot-seat, fourth-year regime of general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll needs to deliver results. Which is why Wilson will head into the season as the starter.
But if Wilson sputters early, don’t be surprised if Schoen/Daboll bench him (even if he’s healthy) for Dart. Because at that point, amid yet another losing season, the only thing that could save this regime is Dart showing progress down the stretch.
OK, so we know the Giants have a brutal September — at Washington and Dallas, then home against the Chiefs and Chargers. Things get a little easier in Week 5 at the Saints, whose quarterback situation is a mess. But then the Giants have a short-week Thursday night home game against the Eagles. The Giants absolutely could be 1-5 after that one.
They head to Denver and Philadelphia the next two weeks, before hosting the 49ers. Then comes another not-so-challenging game (like the Saints matchup) in Week 10, at the Bears. Could Dart debut there? Eh, maybe.
The Giants close November by hosting the Packers and visiting the Lions — two more tough games, amid the NFL’s hardest schedule.
They get a little extra rest between the Detroit trip in Week 12 and the New England trip in Week 13, because they play the Patriots (who aren’t good) on a Monday night. But as with the Chicago game, starting Dart against the Patriots would mean debuting him on the road.
The Giants don’t have their bye until Week 14 — the latest possible point. After that, they play four games (home against the Commanders and Vikings, at the Raiders and then home against the Cowboys).
Do the Giants really want to go through 13 games of another awful season before starting Dart coming out of the bye week, for the final four games? Or would that be too late, if things are going terribly?
While Week 10 in Chicago is one weak point in the schedule (which would mean Dart starting the final eight games), that feels a little early. Debuting him in New England would give him the final five games, with a bit of extra time before his debut and the bye week right after it.
If the Giants are, say, 2-10 or 3-9 heading into that Dec. 1 Monday night game at the Patriots, would starting Dart for the final five games really be enough to save Schoen and Daboll?
Even if it’s not, there would be no point at that juncture — and probably not at 4-8 either — of continuing to start Wilson.
Of course, the ideal scenario for regime — which went 3-14 last year and 6-11 the season prior — would be Wilson playing well enough all season that Dart stays on the bench and develops.
Wilson leading the Giants to a 7-10 season (or better) surely would keep Schoen and Daboll around for 2026. But how realistic is that?
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Darryl Slater may be reached atdslater@njadvancemedia.com.