The New York Giants are 0-1 after a miserable offensive showing in Week 1, scoring just six points vs. the Washington Commanders. Even with 10-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson under center, the unit looked disjointed. However, the offensive line wasn’t the only one to be blamed; the playcalling and execution were equally bad. Wilson completed just 17 of 37 passes for 168 yards with no touchdowns in his first start for the Giants.

Despite a poor outing, Wilson will start again when the Giants travel to Dallas this Sunday. But history isn’t on their side: New York has lost eight straight to the Dallas Cowboys and 15 of the last 16 overall. If Russ pulls off an upset at AT&T Stadium, he might buy himself another week. If not, first-round pick Jaxson Dart could be next in line.

NBC Sports analyst Mike Florio didn’t mince words about the situation in a YouTube video posted on the channel NFL on NBC. “One of the issues is they just need to go with Jackson Dart and be done with it,” Florio said. Raising fingers at the organization’s decision that Dart might finally be ready. That hesitation makes sense. Wilson, now 36, is a declining player. Across his last 10 games, he completed just 63.4 percent of his passes (201 of 317) for 2,183 yards with 12 touchdowns. Four interceptions and a 91.0 passer rating. But a 0-5 in the last 5 games under center is a huge red flag.

Florio also criticized the Giants’ handling of their quarterbacks off the field. “I don’t know why they’re tiptoeing through this weird minefield,” he said, noting the team’s reluctance to make Dart or backup Jameis Winston available to the media. The move speaks to how delicate the situation is: the Giants know that benching Wilson will trigger fallout. As Florio explained, “They’ve got this PR game they’re playing, and I think they know that if and when they bench Russell Wilson, they’re going to have a problem—a PR problem—because Russell Wilson has a PR machine he’ll activate. And we’ve seen that in the past.”

Head coach Brian Daboll is betting on Wilson for now, even as pressure mounts. Daboll has already missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and his seat might not be safe. The calculation is that the veteran is a safer option than Dart. But Dart, the No. 25 pick in the 2025 draft, impressed in preseason.

His learning curve will be steep—he comes from Lane Kiffin’s non-pro-style offense at Ole Miss, where he played 38 games, leading them to consecutive 10-win seasons—so he may already give the Giants a better chance than Wilson. The rookie would also offer something the franchise sorely needs: optimism. The Giants are 3-15 over the last two years, and fans are looking for any sign of progress.

Russell Wilson gets the QB1 role again, but for how long?

Brian Daboll isn’t flinching—not yet. He doubled down on Russell Wilson as his starter heading into Dallas, a decision that feels less like a confident stride. After last week’s six-point embarrassment, Daboll tried to spread the blame across the room: “That game doesn’t fall on Russell Wilson. We’ve got to do a better job collectively—coaching, playing. But Russ will be the starter.” Sounds diplomatic, but when the quarterback wears the crown, he also carries the weight of the guillotine.

The cracks, though, are glaring. Wilson has been a different player once the pocket collapses. And yet, the staff keeps rallying behind him, leaning on his reputation as the ultimate professional. Daboll even vouched for his prep habits: “Russ is as consistent as they come. So his preparation in an OTA and preseason and training camp practice is at an elite level.” On paper, that work ethic sounds like armor. On Sundays, it’s been paper-thin.

So here’s the million-dollar question: how many strikes does Russ get before Daboll’s loyalty becomes his downfall? Dianna Russini already hinted at the possible shift—Jaxson Dart waiting in the wings and a fan base starving for hope for a QB who impressed in a preseason win over the Jets, completing 88% of his passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. If Wilson trips again in Dallas, especially against a rival that has owned the Giants for years, Daboll might not be holding the cards anymore.