AT A GLANCE

Rookie Jaxson Dart threw and ran for a touchdown in his first NFL start while the Giants intercepted Justin Herbert twice in a 21-18 victory over the previously undefeated Chargers. The Giants picked up their first win of the season while the Chargers fell to 3-1. It didn't come without a cost, though. Wide receiver Malik Nabers left midway through the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

UP NEXT

The Giants go back on the road to face the New Orleans Saints, who are 0-4 following a 31-19 loss to the Bills on Sunday. The NFC foes will meet for the third consecutive season and fourth time in five years.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

The news of the week was the quarterback change to rookie Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Russell Wilson, who made his 200th, 201st and 202nd career starts this season, served as the backup.

Dart became the fourth rookie quarterback selected in the first round to start for the Giants in the common draft era (Phil Simms in 1979, Eli Manning in 2004, Daniel Jones in 2019). According to NFL Research, the Ole Miss product is also the first quarterback since Teddy Bridgewater in 2014 to be drafted in the second half of the first round and start a game within the first four weeks of his rookie season.

Overall, Dart completed 13 of 20 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdown while being sacked five times.

Dart's first play as a starter was a handoff to fellow rookie Cam Skattebo for a five-yard gain. His first pass attempt was for Malik Nabers down left sideline, where Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still was called for a 14-yard pass interference penalty. After another run by Skattebo, Dart's first completion was a seven-yard gain to Nabers, who didn't have a catch until the fourth quarter against the Chiefs.

Dart, who had played just six snaps entering Sunday, capped his inaugural drive (nine plays, 89 yards, 4:17 time of possession) with a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Giants an early 7-0 lead.

Dart completed his first four passes for 38 yards.

Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who suffered a shoulder injury late in the first quarter against the Chiefs, was ruled out on the final injury report of the week.

Skattebo again led the Giants on the ground with 25 carries (his previous high was 11) for 79 yards.

Nabers suffered a knee injury with 6:12 left in the second quarter while attempting to catch a deep pass from Dart on a free play due to defensive offsides. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Nabers had two catches for 20 yards on three targets to that point.

Wilson entered the game at quarterback with 11:52 left in the third quarter after Dart, who was also dealing with a hamstring injury, entered concussion protocol. The rookie was cleared after Wilson played two snaps – a sack with a fumble that he recovered and an eight-yard completion to wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson.

Following a momentum-stealing interception by cornerback Dru Phillips (more on that later), Dart recorded his first passing touchdown on a shovel pass to tight end Theo Johnson, who spun into the end zone from three yards out. The Chargers were called for unnecessary roughness in the aftermath and the Giants lined up for a two-point conversion attempt, which Skattebo ran into the end zone. The Giants extended their lead to 21-10 with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas started for the second consecutive week and played the entirety of the game this time. Earlier in the week, Brian Daboll said Thomas was "in a good spot" after playing 28 snaps in his first game in more than 11 months.

The Giants scored touchdowns on two of their five trips to the red zone. They had a success rate of only 20 percent entering Week 4.

The Giants had a turnover on downs in the red zone with 5:35 left in a game, which they led by three points at the time. On fourth-and-goal from the 4, Dart's pass intended for Robinson in the back of the end zone fell incomplete.

The Giants dominated the time of possession 35:28 to 24:22.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux had the first sack of the day, but on the very next play, Justin Herbert converted third-and-19 with a 24-yard run. The defense still got off the field as the Chargers punted on their first two possessions.

The third drive ended in an interception by three-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence. The 6-foot-4, 340-pound defensive lineman tipped the ball to himself and returned it 37 yards the other way down to the Chargers 3. The turnover led to a short field goal on the ensuing possession for a 10-0 lead with 13:47 left in the second quarter. It was Lawrence's first career interception.

Herbert was looking to become the first player in NFL history with zero interceptions in 10 consecutive road games (minimum 15 attempts in each game).

The Giants racked up 12 quarterback hits, including five by rookie Abdul Carter alone. The third overall pick also forced an intentional grounding penalty on Herbert.

Safety Jevón Holland momentarily left with a neck injury and was replaced by Dane Belton until he returned in the second half.

On a fourth-and-two play with 38 seconds remaining, Carter jumped offsides and negated an interception by cornerback Deonte Banks. The Chargers got a fresh set of downs at the Giants 36 with 34 seconds remaining in the second quarter. On the next play, Herbert threw a 36-yard touchdown to wide receiver Quentin Johnston and cut the Chargers' deficit to 13-10 before halftime.

With the momentum turning in the Chargers' favor, cornerback Dru Phillips snatched it back for the Giants with his second interception in three games. He returned it 56 yards to set up Johnson's touchdown and Skattebo's ensuing two-point conversion for an eight-point swing.

It didn't last long. The Chargers got the ball back and rookie running back Omarion Hampton broke a 54-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion attempt. The Chargers cut the deficit to 21-18 with 1:27 left in the third quarter.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns notched his fifth interception of the season at a key moment, taking down Herbert for a loss of 16 yards with 3:05 remaining in a three-point game. The Chargers were forced to punt.

Inside linebacker Darius Muasau returned to action at an injury-depleted position after missing last week with a concussion. He led the team with six tackles.

Rookie defensive lineman Darius Alexander made his first NFL start. The third-round draft choice played 23 defensive snaps in Week 3.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker Graham Gano, who suffered a groin injury in final warmups before kickoff last Sunday night, was placed on injured reserve.

The Giants subsequently signed veteran kicker Younghoe Koo to the practice squad. He competed with Jude McAtamney in practice this week for the job. The latter was later elevated from the practice squad for gameday. McAtamney made his NFL debut for the Giants in Week 9 of last season and was successful on his lone field goal attempt from 31 yards (in addition to an extra point attempt). A native of Derry, Ireland, McAtamney became the first Irish-born player to score in a game since 1985.

On Sunday, McAtamney made both of his field goal attempts from 31 and 22 yards.

Jamie Gillan booted a 69-yard punt, his longest since 2023, from the back of the end zone in the third quarter. Dane Belton made the tackle at the Chargers 41 to flip the field position. Phillips got his interception on the Chargers' ensuing possession.

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

NYG: WR Malik Nabers (knee) S Jevón Holland (neck/returned), QB Jaxson Dart (hamstring/cleared concussion protocol)

LAC: OT Joe Alt (ankle)

INACTIVES

NYG: RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder), DL Chauncey Golston (ankle), OL Evan Neal, TE Thomas Fidone II, DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (foot), S Beau Brade, QB Jameis Winston (3^rd QB)

LAC: WR Derius Davis (knee), S R.J. Mickens, CB Nikko Reed, G Mekhi Becton (concussion), TE Will Dissly (knee), DT Otito Ogbonnia

WEEK 4 ROSTER MOVES

NYG: OLB Tomon Fox (signed to active roster from practice squad), DL Elijah Garcia (signed to active roster from practice squad), K Jude McAtamney (activated from practice squad), LB Neville Hewitt (activated from practice squad), K Graham Gano (placed on injured reserve), K Younghoe Koo (signed to practice squad), LB Curtis Jacobs (released from practice squad)

LAC: OT Foster Sarell (activated from practice squad), RB Kimani Vidal (activated from practice squad)