Jaxson Dart said he wanted to do his best to be a spark in his first NFL start.
The quarterback did just that and helped lead the New York Giants to their first win of the season against the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers. For his performance, the 25th overall pick has been nominated for Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week.
This is the third consecutive week a Giants rookie has been nominated for the honor. Cam Skattebo, a fourth-round draft choice who is now fifth among all NFL rookies in yards from scrimmage, was up for it in Weeks 2 and 3.
Dart completed 13 of 20 passes for 111 pass yards on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, including a three-yard shovel pass to tight end Theo Johnson for his first career passing touchdown. He opened the game with a 15-yard rushing touchdown as part of 10 carries for 54 yards. The Giants never trailed after that.
"Obviously, this experience was a special one, it being my first one," Dart said in his postgame press conference. "I'm just grateful to have the guys around me that I had. I obviously want to give a big shoutout to [Russell Wilson]. I know that this week probably wasn't the easiest thing, but he handled it like a professional and just was a mentor for me. I just have a ton of respect for him. It goes for Jameis [Winston] as well, just getting me prepared for this week. Really just proud of the guys, being able to battle through some adversity throughout the game. It's not always going to be the cleanest, but I was just happy that we were able to come out with the win."
View photos from the Week 4 matchup between the Giants and Chargers.
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , WR Malik Nabers (1)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), WR Malik Nabers (1)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
ILB Darius Muasau (53), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
ILB Darius Muasau (53), DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58) , S Tyler Nubin (27)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97) , LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (33)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
K Jamie Gillan (12)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (96)
S Tyler Nubin (27) , ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , RB Devin Singletary (26)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
K Jude McAtamney (99) , K Jamie Gillan (12)
K Jude McAtamney (99)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
K Jamie Gillan (12) , K Jude McAtamney (99)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
S Tyler Nubin (27) , CB Dru Phillips (22)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
CB Dru Phillips (22) , OLB Abdul Carter (51)
S Tyler Nubin (27) , CB Dru Phillips (22)
TE Theo Johnson (84) , G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
S Tyler Nubin (27) , CB Dru Phillips (22) , ILB Darius Muasau (53)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Theo Johnson (84) , TE Daniel Bellinger (82) , RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) , C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
TE Theo Johnson (84) , QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Art Green (23) , CB Dru Phillips (22) , CB Deonte Banks (2) , ILB Darius Muasau (53)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
S Jevón Holland (8) , ILB Bobby Okereke (58),
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0) , CB Rico Payton (35)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Dart became the first quarterback since Patrick Mahomes to lead a touchdown drive of at least 80 yards on the first possession of his first career start.
He is also the first rookie quarterback to beat a team 3-0 or better in his first career start since Phil Simms in 1979 against the 5-0 Buccaneers (excluding strike seasons).
Overall, the Giants became the first 0-3 team to beat a 3-0 team since 2008. They also defeated the Chargers for the first time since 1998.
The Giants boasted multiple rookies (Dart and Skattebo) with at least 50 rushing yards in a game for first time since 1980 (Larry Heater and Leon Perry). Skattebo led the way Sunday with 79 yards on 25 carries.
"Skatt is a baller," Dart said. "I just think that we play very similar, like mentality-wise. May need to be smarter in the open field, taking some hits and whatnot, but when you have a guy like that who just brings the juice every single day and gives it his all, the guys around him want to play harder. Off the field, we just have a really good connection."
Fans can vote for Dart at nfl.com/rookies and on the NFL Mobile app through Thursday at 11 a.m. ET to determine who will bring home the Rookie of the Week championship belt for Week 4. The winner will be announced Thursday on NFL.com.
After the regular season, six players will be nominated for Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year honors. This is the 24th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year award.
A look at the rookie nominees for Week 4:
QB Jaxson Dart (NYG): Completed 13 of 20 passes (65 percent) for 111 yards, TD. Also rushed for 54 yards, TD
RB Omarion Hampton (LAC): 165 scrimmage yards (128 rushing, 37 receiving), rushing TD
RB Ashton Jeanty (LV): 155 scrimmage yards (138 rushing, 17 receiving), rushing TD, 2 receiving TDs
RB Woody Marks (HOU): 119 scrimmage yards (69 rushing, 50 receiving), rushing TD, receiving TD
WR Emeka Egbuka (TB): 4 receptions for 101 yards, receiving TD
RB RJ Harvey (DEN): 98 scrimmage yards (58 rushing, 40 receiving), receiving TD
