The New York Giants are sitting pretty at 3-1-1 after five weeks, which honestly, is way better than how things started out. We all know we lost Jaxson Dart in Week 2, a tough blow no doubt, but backup QB Jameis Winston has stepped in and, get this, he hasn’t lost a single game in his three starts. Talk about clutch!
Winston’s Locked In, and the Team Knows It
Giants offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr. spilled the beans on what it’s really like to play with Winston, and it’s not exactly what you see on social media. Runyan said that “this kind of outgoing personality, you see it all over social media. Especially how well he was documented throughout the summertime with the FIFA World Cup.” We all saw that, right? But Runyan makes it clear that’s only “one part of the kind of person he is, but he’s not like that all the time.” When it’s game time, or even meeting time, it’s a completely different vibe. “In meetings, out in the field, he is serious, all about business. I don’t really ever see him cracking any jokes. I don’t see him cracking a smile. He is locked in, focused.” That’s the kind of leadership you need from your quarterback, especially when you’re down your starter. Runyan straight up said, “He understands that he has the keys to this offense. And I think he knows how good of a team we can be, and I think he understands that.” That’s huge. Having a QB who believes in the team and takes his role that seriously? That’s what you want.
Against All Odds: The Giants Are Still Rolling
It’s not just Dart we’ve lost, either. We’ve taken some serious hits with season-ending injuries to guys like outside linebacker Brian Burns and wide receiver Jack Braxton Barrios, among others. And yet, somehow, we’re still in first place in the NFC East. Seriously, who saw that coming after all the bad breaks? Runyan credits the coaching staff big time for keeping this squad on track. He said, “I think it says a lot about not only our coaching staff, what they’ve kind of tried to build throughout the whole offseason program and into training camp. It says a lot about them, the foundation that they’ve built.” He’s not wrong. It’s easy for a team to unravel when adversity hits, but these guys are holding strong. Runyan was honest, too, admitting that with “a couple plays here and there, I feel like we could also be 1-4.” Yikes, talk about a reality check! But “luckily, we are 3-1-1 at the moment. And like I said, we still have a long way to go.” Head Coach John Harbaugh’s mantra of “go 1-0 every week” has clearly stuck, and it’s “been working so far this year.” They might be winning “ugly,” but the process and cohesion Harbaugh and his staff have built are doing “wonders.”
Thomas, The O-Line’s Glue, Is a True Warrior
And we can’t talk about the line without shouting out Andrew Thomas. This guy is a straight-up warrior, playing through a groin injury that’s gotta be killing him. His teammates definitely see it. Runyan said, “I do see him looking like he’s laboring here and there, but he won’t show it on his face. He’s just going to keep working, keep his mouth shut, and keep playing.” That’s the kind of dedication that makes a team great. He’s the “lead by example guy of our entire, I could say entire offense, but definitely the offensive line.” Runyan summed it up perfectly: “He’s definitely the glue that holds us all together, having such a good, dominant player that he is for a very long time.” That’s a huge boost to the offense, knowing you’ve got a guy like that fighting in the trenches.
Next up, we got the Saints coming into town. It’s another chance to go 1-0 this week, keep that Harbaugh mindset rolling, and show everyone we’re for real in this NFC East. Let’s get it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply