Jaxson Dart made his debut two weeks ago during a game that tied the NFL record for most lead changes in the fourth quarter and overtime.

When it came time for his first start, Dart wasn't going to exhale until the very end of the 21-18 victory over the previously undefeated Chargers.

"I was waiting for it to hit zero, because obviously that Dallas game, in my mind I thought we were going to have that one," Dart said. "So, I was just staring at the clock, and I was waiting for it to count down. [Left guard] Jon Runyan was right next to me and that was a cool moment to have with him. Yeah, it was just special to get the first one. This is just the start."

His head coach, who made the decision to switch from Russell Wilson to the rookie this week, also shared a moment with Dart as the two embraced in the postgame throng.

"Probably said 'great F-ing win' – something like that," Brian Daboll revealed in his postgame press conference.

Indeed it was.

After the defense forced a three-and-out to start the game, Dart took the field to an ovation from the home crowd at MetLife Stadium. His first play as a starter will go down as a handoff to fellow rookie Cam Skattebo for a five-yard gain. His first pass attempt was to Malik Nabers down the 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 last week.

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 lead, which they never relinquished.

Overall, Dart completed 13 of 20 passes for 111 yards, including a three-yard touchdown on a shovel pass to tight end Theo Johnson. Dart also ran 10 times for 54 yards and a score.

"Obviously, this experience was a special one, it being my first one," Dart said. "I'm just grateful to have the guys around me that I had. I obviously want to give a big shoutout to Russ. 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."

THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN…

With Justin Herbert looking to get the Chargers into game-tying field goal range, cornerback Cor'Dale Flott tackled wide receiver Quentin Johnston in bounds at the Chargers 38 to run out the clock. The Chargers had stolen back the momentum, including rookie Omarion Hampton's 54-yard touchdown run to make it a three-point game, but the Giants kept them at arm's length. They never surrendered the lead after Dart's touchdown run on the opening possession and pitched a fourth-quarter shutout.

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS

Late in the first quarter, Dexter Lawrence tipped a pass to himself, secured the ball for his first career interception, and returned it 37 yards down to the Chargers 3. The 6-foot-4, 340-pounder wasn't going to pass the ball off to one his smaller, faster teammates.

"Nobody was close to me," he said. "I tell everybody I'm the fastest. … I thought I was going to score. I knew he was going to go low, but I can't catch my feet quick enough, but then I just went down."

Lawrence wasn't the only Giants defender with a long interception return on Sunday.

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 Theo Johnson's touchdown catch and Cam Skattebo's ensuing two-point conversion for an eight-point swing.

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).

STAT OF THE GAME

The Giants registered 12 quarterback hits, including a team-high five from rookie Abdul Carter. The third overall draft pick forced an intentional grounding on one of them.

The Giants had three players (Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns) who produced at least three quarterback hits each. The only other Giants trio to do it in a single game was Mathias Kiwanuka, Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora vs. Philadelphia in 2007. (Quarterback hits became an official statistic in 2006.)

NO HESITATION

The Giants converted a season-high seven third downs (on 15 attempts), including a key third-and-five where Dart connected with Johnson with 2:38 left in the game. The fresh set of downs helped the Giants chew up more clock, giving the ball back to the Chargers with just 18 seconds remaining. The Giants had no hesitation calling a pass in that situation for the rookie.

"It's interesting, with that play, it was a little bunch play," Daboll said. "We've worked it one way for 10 years, as we run the play. And Dart sees me in the locker room right before I come out here, he's like, on that play we ran, Theo and I talked about that, whatever it was yesterday or the day before, and if you get this look, I want you to sit. We normally don't really sit on it. So that's a credit to two young players playing the game and having confidence in a critical time to do what they talked about when they're studying film. I got a lot of confidence in our rookie quarterback."

Dart added: "That one was really cool because it was something that we discussed, kind of a change-up, an adjustment on the route. He was really just supposed to keep running all the way through. I told him, just from film prep and stuff, if you see that middle open, just sit down for me. It was kind of a cool moment to see that happen in a big situation like that. We gave each other a little look, and I was really excited to obviously make that play with him."

NOTABLE

Dart is the first quarterback to win his first career start against a team that was 3-0 or better in 23 seasons (Marc Bulger with the St. Louis Rams on Oct. 13, 2002, against the 4-0 Oakland Raiders). He is the Giants' first rookie quarterback to do so since Phil Simms in 1979 against the 5-0 Buccaneers (excluding strike seasons).

Meanwhile, the Giants became the first 0-3 team to defeat a 3-0 team in exactly 17 years (Sept. 28, 2008 – Kansas City 33, Denver 19).

QUOTABLE

"I saw Burns after, and I saw him during the game. He is spent, not saying it's the [Michael Jordan] flu game. But that young man is spent, I mean, he looks the part right now." – Daboll on Burns fighting through an illness to record a key third-down sack that cost the Chargers 16 yards and forced them to punt late in the game

WHAT THE WIN MEANS FOR GIANTS

In the long run, time will tell. In the short term, the Giants picked up their first win of the season and will look to make it two in a row next week against 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.

STARTING OFFENSE

• WR Malik Nabers
• TE Theo Johnson
• LT Andrew Thomas
• LG Jon Runyan
• C John Michael Schmitz
• RG Greg Van Roten
• RT Jermaine Eluemunor
• WR Wan'Dale Robinson
• WR Darius Slayton
• QB Jaxson Dart
• RB Cam Skattebo

STARTING DEFENSE

• OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
• DL Darius Alexander
• DL Dexter Lawrence
• DL Roy Robertson-Harris
• OLB Brian Burns
• ILB Bobby Okereke
• ILB Darius Muasau
• CB Cor'Dale Flott
• CB Paulson Adebo
• S Tyler Nubin
• S Jevón Holland

INJURY REPORT

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.

Dart, who was dealing with a hamstring injury, was evaluated for a concussion early in the second half following a 39-yard scramble that was called back for holding. After Wilson took the next two snaps, Dart cleared protocol.

"I was pissed," the competitive Dart said of having to be evaluated. "I don't want to see anybody try to sprint 70-yards as hard as you can, and then you've got to run back and get ready for the next play. You're going to be tired. That's all it was. I was just tired. Obviously, I never want to come out of the game."

"I know 6 is probably going to be sore," Daboll said. "I mean, he gutted it out. [He] is a tough son of a, you know what. He's tough, but I knew that."

Safety Jevón Holland also suffered a neck injury but returned to the game.

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)