QB Russell Wilson’s 14-season career appears to be coming to an end in 2025. But 2025 is looking less like a farewell tour because Week 1 was brutal. The Giants’ new quarterback mustered just 168 passing yards on 17-of-37 attempts, coughing up a 59.3 passer rating in a 21-6 loss to Washington. That number? His worst ever in 13 career Week 1 starts. The part that stings more?

 And yet, Brian Daboll is doubling down. Instead of handing the reins to first-round rookie QB Jaxson Dart, the Giants’ head coach announced Wilson will start again in Week 2 at Dallas. And the risk? The Giants haven’t beaten the Cowboys since January 3, 2021, dropping eight straight and 15 of their last 16 matchups.

“Owned” might actually be too polite a word. The Cowboys have been the bully on the block for over a decade, and New York’s offense—barely crawling out right now—doesn’t exactly look ready for revenge. On NFL on CBS, Mike Renner framed the debate simply: “Who do we have more faith in bouncing back?” JP Acosta didn’t mince words. “I have more faith in the Cowboys largely because I don’t think this Giants offense is very good. Russell Wilson at quarterback—as long as he’s their guy, they’re going to struggle to move the ball. They weren’t able to be explosive against a Commanders defense that’s been getting gashed in the passing game. If you can’t move the ball downfield, you’re neutering your offense a little with Wilson at quarterback. He’s just not going to be explosive.”

Even with Dallas missing cornerback DaRon Bland, sidelined by a foot injury that was initially thought to cost him five weeks, Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan that he’s “optimistic” about Bland’s recovery; the bigger picture is depth. Dallas called up linebacker Jadeveon Clowney this week to shore up their defensive line. Clowney, still a quality run defender, left without signing, but insiders say it was his call, and the door remains open. If the Cowboys do land him, that’s another hurdle for Wilson’s already suffocated offense.

Renner doubled down on the mismatch. “I think the Cowboys are uniquely qualified, and that’s why I like them in this game—maybe even to cover that number. They are ox-strong across the board, especially on the interior. Because of that, Dexter Lawrence may not kill you..I just don’t see the Giants, with this quarterback, scoring points on anyone.” The reality? Nose tackle Lawrence himself was swallowed by double teams in Week 1 as Washington gashed the Giants for 220 yards on the ground on 32 attempts, a 6.9 yards per attempt average. That front is bending, and Dallas’ power looks ready to snap it.

Acosta’s final word felt like a prediction of misery. “I was surprised at how well they ran the ball against Philly—even without Jalen Carter, that’s still a really talented Eagles’ line. I think Dallas jumps out to a lead early and never really gives it up, because the Giants can’t move the ball.” For Wilson, history teases hope—he’s 5-1 lifetime against the Cowboys, including a 2020 masterpiece with 315 passing yards and five touchdowns. But that was Seattle Russ. This Russ is walking into AT&T Stadium with a toothless offense.

Russell Wilson holds the lead, but Jaxson Dart breaks his silence

Russell Wilson is still the starter, but the surrounding shadows are getting louder. The Giants’ depth chart confirmed what whispers had been saying—Jaxson Dart has already leapfrogged Jameis Winston to QB2. And while Wilson prepares to face the Cowboys in what looks like another uphill battle, Dart opened up about the waiting game. “It’s not like, I dont  have a blast now watching from the sideline,” he admitted. “But you know, it’s just the way that it is. My job is to do what I can control when I’m sitting there, like I’m itching, so you just want to compete. You want to be out there some ways, you kind of feel like a fan a little bit when you’re on the sideline, so it’s a little bit different from the feeling I’m used to. But I’m just trying to shift my perspective.”

That perspective is worth paying attention to because Dart has already shown what the future might look like. In the preseason finale against the Patriots, he went 26-of-35 for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one rushing score. Before that, he had an impressive debut against the New York Jets, going 14-of-16 for 137 yards with a passing score, a rushing touchdown, and a goal-line sneak. Numbers like that don’t belong to a kid who looks like a sideline fan. They belong to someone ready to break through the door if Wilson stumbles again.

Dart himself knows patience is part of the gig. “I don’t pay attention to that stuff. It’s the nature of the sport—any time that you don’t win, people talk,” he said. And yet, it’s impossible not to connect the dots. He joined camp late, spent four months running with the second team, and still climbed from QB3 to QB2 on the Week 1 depth chart. Even Brian Daboll is leaning into the grooming process: “Each day we’re trying to groom him, and when he has to play, he’ll be ready to play.” Ready. That’s the word. Wilson may be the one holding the mic now, but Dart’s voice may, sooner rather than later, break all the way through.