The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

Brian Burns will join Michael Strahan and Lawrence Taylor as the only Giants players with 20 sacks in a season.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – Brian Burns is having a great year and should be in consideration for every defensive award, from All-Pro to even Defensive Player of the Year. But I don't think he is getting to 20 sacks because he doesn't produce enough consistent pressure to keep his sack numbers that high. As an example, according to Pro Football Focus, Aidan Hutchinson has 66 pressures this year versus 33 for Burns. Nik Bonitto has 48 and Micah Parsons has 49. In terms of pressure rate (12.1 percent), Brian Burns ranks 65th and his win rate (10.3 percent) ranks 95th among players that have at least 100 pass rush reps. Burns might be the best finisher in the NFL this year, but I would be surprised if his pressure-to-sack ratio continued at such a high clip.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Burns is one of those players who could have fit into a locker room from any era. So, it would only be natural if he joined the likes of Strahan and L.T. I almost went "fiction" here just out of respect for that number. There is a reason it has only been achieved twice. But Burns has been building something special since OTAs. I think it continues.

Matt Citak: Fiction – Burns is undoubtedly having a career year. His 11 sacks through nine games not only leads the NFL, but also has him just 1.5 sacks shy of matching his previous career-high of 12.5 sacks in 2022. But 20 sacks is a very high number. Since sacks became an official stat in 1982, it's only been done 13 times. If he is able to achieve this feat, Burns will join some elite company (Michael Strahan, Lawrence Taylor, Jared Allen and Aaron Donald, just to name a few). I hope I'm wrong, but I think Burns ends up closer to the 15-17 sack range.

Jaxson Dart is the frontrunner for AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

John Schmeelk: Fact – People will always lean quarterback if everything else is equal (five of the last 10 winners were quarterbacks) come awards season, which combined with Dart's production, gives him the lead just over halfway through the season. He needs to stay healthy and continue to play at a high level because there are other very good options, like Emeka Egbuka, Tyler Warren, and Tetairoa McMillan.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Dart is the third NFL rookie all-time to have a rushing and passing touchdown in five games. The others are Cam Newton (eight in 2011) and Justin Herbert (five in 2020). Both players went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Dart is also the first Giant to be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (October) since wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. won back-to-back awards in November and December of 2014. Beckham, the 12th overall pick that season, went on to be voted the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Matt Citak: Fact – Dart is putting together a historic rookie campaign as a dual-threat quarterback. His five games with 1+ passing TD and 1+ rushing TD not only set a new franchise record, but also made him one of just three rookies to have five or more such games. In six starts, Dart is accountable for 15 total touchdowns (10 passing, five rushing) with only three interceptions. Four of the last six winners of the award were quarterbacks, so if he keeps producing like he has been the last six weeks, Dart should easily be the frontrunner. His biggest competition is likely Emeka Egbuka, who has slowed down a bit after a hot start to the season.

The Bears are the most improved team in the NFL this season.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – The Bears have taken a big jump this season, especially offensively, with the hiring of Ben Johnson. Caleb Williams is playing better and the entire operation is much more put together. But I can't give the Bears the nod over the New England Patriots, who won only four games last year and have rocketed out to a 7-2 record and a division lead. Drake Maye is a candidate for MVP. The caveat is that the Patriots (and Bears, for that matter) do not have many quality wins over top opponents, but that doesn't take away from how much better they have become. The Colts are also in this conversation, but they went 8-9 last year, so I think they fall just short.

Dan Salomone: Fact – From their season opener on Monday Night Football, you could tell things were going to be different even though they lost that particular game. The Bears have the No. 4 total offense this season, averaging 378.4 yards per game. They were last in the NFL in 2024, averaging 283.5 yards. While they have their deficiencies on defense like everyone else, they also lead the NFL in takeaways, including a league-high 13 interceptions.

Matt Citak: Fiction – There are several teams across the league that have improved more than the Bears since the end of last season. The 49ers have a strong case, as do the Colts. But to me, the team that has made the most improvement this season is the Giants' Week 13 opponent – the New England Patriots. Mike Vrabel has his team firing on all cylinders, Drake Maye looks like the real deal, and the defense is sneakily one of the best in the league. Coming off a four-win season last year, the Patriots have already nearly doubled their win count. The Bears are certainly improved, but not nearly as much as the Patriots.

The NFC North is the best division in the league right now.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – Give the me the NFC West, which has three teams with six wins, and two true Super Bowl contenders in the Seahawks and Rams that are very strong on both sides of the ball. I will take the 49ers over the Bears right now, though the Vikings vs. Cardinals debate at the bottom of each division is close. The Packers have had too many weird losses (and ties) this season, and the Lions are coming off a loss to the Vikings. It's close, but give me the NFC West.

Dan Salomone: Fact – From top to bottom, the NFC North is the only division that doesn't have a team with a losing record. The Giants are about to get an up-close look at it with a three-game stretch through the North. From Chicago, they return to host the Packers and then hit the road again to face the Lions.

Matt Citak: Fiction – The NFC North makes the top three in my division rankings, but I'm not sure I can quite put them at the very top. All four teams are within one game in the win column of each other and no one is currently under .500. But the AFC West has the Broncos with seven wins, Chargers with six, and Chiefs with five, while the NFC West has the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers all with six wins. Both of these divisions could end up having three teams in the playoffs. While the Packers and Lions are among the best teams in the NFC, the jury is still out on the Bears and Vikings.