The New York Giants could pull off an upset 34-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles largely because of their rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo. While Dart recorded a passing and a rushing TD, Skattebo also scored 3. Naturally, the RB was pumped as the clock ran out on a devastated Eagles team.

In fact, at one point, he got too excited for the referees’ liking, as he taunted rookie safety Andrew Mukuba with around 5 minutes left in the game. That infraction got his team sent back 15 yards. And while it had no impact on the result, Skattebo still thought it was a harsh call.

“I got a 15-yard penalty for saying ‘first down,'” he said after the game.

The rookie RB was running along the right when Mukuba pushed him out of bounds. And while Skattebo’s taunt came without any provocation from the safety, even the commentators thought that the NFL’s decision to slap teams with a 15-yard penalty for taunting as part of its renewed emphasis on sportsmanship is a bit over the top.

There’s been considerable chatter about this since the very first week of the season. The Eagles were penalized 15 yards because linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. stood over Dallas Cowboys‘ RB Miles Sanders, flexing, after taking him down on a second-quarter run for no gain.

“There’s no place in the game to have violent gestures,” said the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, in a video explanation that was sent to teams during the offseason. “That’s not the game of football. We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles.”

As far as playing between the whistles is concerned, Skattebo did much better than his Eagles’ counterpart, Saquon Barkley. Barkley logged just 12 carries for 58 yards with no score. But Skattebo dominated his team’s rushing attack with 19 rushes for 98 yards, as he became the first rookie since Charlie Evans (vs. San Diego in 1971) to rush for 3 touchdowns in a single game.

And his fellow rookie Dart was all praises for him.

Jaxson Dart praises RB Cam Skattebo

“I mean, he’s crazy, bro,” said Jaxon Dart, per NFL Network‘s Mike Garafolo. “He’s crazy. But he’s a baller, man. Us coming in here, we’re really just trying to change the culture of intensity. He played his a– off tonight. I love him.”

Ever since Dart became the starter for the New York franchise, the RB’s performance has also improved. He finished the Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers with 25 rushes for 79 yards. Then, in the Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, he recorded 15 rushes for 59 yards. But in both games, he failed to score. Maybe he saved his best for the Birds.

As for Skattebo being “crazy,” fans were in for another big surprise during Prime Video‘s postgame show, which the RB was invited to alongside Dart. That’s when Dart proposed that former quarterback and Prime Video analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick take off his shirt so that Skattebo may follow suit. While the Giants RB nodded his head in approval, Fitzpatrick was unsure.

But he then took his Hawaiian shirt off while yelling, “Skatteboooooo!” and then gave the rookie, who tore apart his shirt, a chest bump. That’s the kind of energy Skattebo brings to the team, and it’s not just Dart who loves him for it.

“He’s awesome, he’s as genuine as they come. He’s genuinely an idiot,” Giants teammate Gunner Olszewski said earlier in the week.

With each passing day, Skattebo is racing towards becoming the find of the season. If the Giants use him well, he could be one of their key players in 2025.