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10 Things To Watch For

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10 things to watch in Giants vs. Chargers

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DART'S FIRST START

Coach Brian Daboll made a change this week when he decided to start rookie Jaxson Dart in place of Russell Wilson. The move comes after the Giants failed to reach double-digit points in two of the first three games of the season.

"I think it will be a work in progress relative to him playing in his first game," Daboll told the media Wednesday. "Again, there will be some things that he hasn't seen. We'll try to do the best we can for him relative to our scheme, but it's going to take everybody. It's going to take the offensive line, the defense, the kicking game, and he just needs to go out there and do his job. Just make good decisions, throw the ball where he needs to throw it, make loose plays if he needs to make loose plays, take care of it. He doesn't have to do any more than that."

One factor in the coaching staff's decision to go with Dart this early in the season is the rookie's performance during the preseason. Across those three games, the 22-year-old completed 32 of 47 passes for 372 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while adding six rushes for 52 yards (8.7 avg.) and an additional score. The offense topped the 30-point mark in three consecutive preseason games for the first time in franchise history. The rookie will now try to lead the team to its first victory this season against an undefeated Chargers team.

"First of all, we've just got to continue to keep the main thing the main thing, process-wise," Dart said earlier this week. "Everybody throughout a season is going to face adversity. I think for us, it's going to show what kind of grit we have as a team, character-wise. How do we handle it when we've been punched, when we're down? How are you going to respond to that? I think the biggest thing for me is I want to do my best to be a spark. I want to create excitement on the field. I want to be explosive when opportunities are there. Try to just bring a little bit of swagger."

ALL-TIME SERIES

The New York Giants (0-3) will host the Los Angeles Chargers (3-0) at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 28. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

This will be the 14th meeting between the two teams, with the Giants trailing the series, 5-8.

The teams last met in Week 14 of the 2021 season in Los Angeles when the Giants lost by a score of 37-21.

See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 4 matchup against the Chargers.

INJURY REPORT

Giants

Out: K Graham Gano (Groin), RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Shoulder), DL Chauncey Golston (Ankle)

Doubtful: DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (Foot)

Chargers

Out: G Mekhi Becton (Concussion), WR Derius Davis (Knee), TE Will Dissly (Knee)

Questionable: C Bradley Bozeman (Back), DB Elijah Molden (Hamstring)

HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN, & STREAM

TV

Channel: CBS | Paramount+

Announcers: Kevin Harlan (Play-By-Play), Trent Green (Analyst), and Melanie Collins (Sideline)

Radio

Channel: WFAN 101.9FM

Announcers: Bob Papa (Play-By-Play), Carl Banks (Analyst), Howard Cross (Sideline)

Pre- and Postgame: John Schmeelk, Tiki Barber

Pregame: Giants Gameday begins at 11:00 AM, presented by Hackensack Meridian Health.

Postgame: Giants Extra Point

'WE'VE ALL GOT TO DO OUR JOB'

With Dart set to make his first NFL start, a lot of the attention this week has been on the rookie quarterback, and understandably so. But they will be going up against a tough Chargers unit that sits as one of the league's six remaining undefeated teams.

"We've all got to do our job," Daboll said in his 1-on-1 interview with Giants.com. "We're playing a team that's 3-0. They're playing good, complementary football. They've won three division games. They've played on the road. They've played down in another country (Week 1 in Brazil against the Chiefs). They're confident. That's what happens when you win early in a season. Our job is to make sure that we do the fundamental things. We've got to tackle and block and throw and catch and play good situational football and play good complementary football. And that's what we're trying to do."

The Chargers enter this game with one of the league's top defenses through the first three weeks. Los Angeles has the No. 3 scoring defense, due in large part to their two passing touchdowns allowed, which is tied for the lowest in the NFL. Meanwhile, the unit ranks eighth in total yards allowed. On the other side of the ball, the Chargers offense has gained the sixth-most yards as Justin Herbert leads the NFL with 286.7 passing yards per game.

SKATT 'CONTINUING TO IMPROVE'

A shoulder injury for Tyrone Tracy Jr. led to Cam Skattebo seeing the most action of his young NFL career in Week 3. The rookie running back finished the game as the Giants' leading rusher with 10 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown, as well as the team's leading receiver with six receptions for 61 yards. A big outing from Skattebo against the Chargers could go a long way in helping Dart out in his first start.

"He's done a nice job for us," Daboll said about the young running back. "There will be things that he goes through as a young player, but he's continuing to improve. And that's what you want out of your young players, guys like him and Abdul [Carter] and now we're getting Jaxson ready to go. It's a good young group of guys to work with."

Skattebo's performance against a talented Chiefs defense was even more impressive when you look at the analytics. The young back forced seven missed tackles, according to Next Gen Stats, and racked up 58 yards after the catch. He became just the eighth rookie in franchise history to have 60+ rushing yards and 60+ receiving yards in the same game.

"I've been around bigger backs that run with good pad level and power that could also catch," Daboll said. "He's another guy that, throughout the [draft] process, what you saw is what you get – competitive, tough, instinctive. I think he's going to be a good player for a long time."

CHARGERS WR TRIO

As previously mentioned, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went into Week 4 as the NFL's leading passer with 860 yards through the air. Herbert has elevated his game this season with his 105.5 passer rating and 6-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but the play of his top three wide receivers has been a significant factor in the signal-caller's early success.

Los Angeles' offense offers a tough matchup for any defense with their wide receiver trio of Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston. Allen currently leads the team with 19 receptions (for 194 yards), while Johnston has a team-high 239 receiving yards (on 14 receptions). Those two wideouts are tied for a team-leading three touchdowns apiece, all while McConkey, the No. 34 overall pick in last year's draft, has 15 receptions for 163 yards.

"He's playing at a really high level right now," defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said about Herbert. "Johnston's coming on for him. He's finding ways to get him the ball. Really, all three of those receivers are involved in the passing game. They're all a little bit different."

PLAYER TO WATCH

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux – Thibodeaux has gotten the 2025 campaign off to a solid start. He ranks second on the team with 1.5 sacks and 12 total pressures, and now has a good opportunity to add to those numbers on Sunday. Chargers right tackle Trey Pipkins, who had a knee injury that forced him in and out of the lineup last week, surrendered 11 total pressures against the Broncos, according to Next Gen Stats.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

OLB Brian Burns vs. OT Joe Alt – Burns enters Week 4 in a three-way tie for the second-most sacks in the NFL with four, to go with his 13 total pressures. He has registered at least one sack in each of the first three games, but faces his toughest challenge yet this weekend. Joe Alt has allowed a pressure on just 6.3 percent of his pass blocks this season, according to NGS, which is the fourth-lowest rate among left tackles with 50 or more pass block snaps.

CHARGER TO WATCH

S Derwin James - James was one of just five players in the NFL last season to have at least 70 tackles, five sacks, an interception and five passes defensed, and the only defensive back to do so. This season, the All-Pro safety has allowed just 51 receiving yards in coverage on 16 targets, which ranks as the second-fewest yards per target (3.2) among 40 DBs with 15 or more targets. James leads the Chargers with 26 total tackles and five tackles for loss, while his three quarterback hits are tied with Tuli Tuipulotu and Da'Shawn Hand for the most on the team.

View photos from the all-time series between the Giants and Chargers, which dates back to 1971.

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Tickets available for the Giants Women's Tailgate

Join us Sunday, Sept 28 -10am to 12:30 pm at the Ultimate New York Giants Women's Tailgate, an event designed to celebrate and unite the team's loyal fan base.

Enjoy a curated custom merchandise shop, exclusive Kendra Scott activation, tailgate games, giveaways, photo opportunities, live DJ entertainment, and more!

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