Russell Wilson Dazzles and Crashes in Giants’ Heartbreaking Loss to Cowboys
Russell Wilson was on an all-time heater against the Dallas Cowboys until one bad throw ended the New York Giants’ chances. Doug Farrar says that this is the Russell Wilson Experience.
Over the last five seasons, Russell Wilson has found himself on four different teams. There were the Seattle Seahawks, the team that selected him in the third round of the 2012 draft, until Wilson wore out his welcome after the 2021 season. There were the Denver Broncos, who took Wilson off Seattle’s hands in one of the worst trades in recent memory, and whose head coach Sean Payton was driven nuts by having to run the Russell Wilson offense on a no-matter-what basis. The Broncos released Wilson in March, 2024, despite the fact that they had to take an $85 million dead cap hit to do it.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were next in line, signing Wilson to a $1.21 million contract for the 2024 season in the hope that Wilson could solve a quarterback problem that had beleaguered the franchise since Ben Roethlisberger’s salad days. Wilson missed six games due to injury, was efficient if unspectacular, and the Steelers moved on to Aaron Rodgers.
Finally, there were the New York Giants, who signed Wilson to a one-year, $10.5 million contract on March 25. The idea here was that Wilson could keep Brian Daboll’s offense going while first-round draft pick Jaxson Dart got the hang of the NFL.
This plan didn’t work as expected early on. After Wilson completed 17 of 37 passes for 168 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 59.3 in a 21-6 season-opening loss to the Washington Commanders, Daboll spent all week deflecting questions about when he was going to pull Wilson and start Dart instead.
“It’s his first regular season game to be part of, so he’s got to be ready,” Daboll said Wednesday, when asked how Dart could benefit from being on the bench. “He’s got to see the game through the quarterback’s eyes on the sideline. He’s got to be involved in the communication. Each day we’re trying to groom him, and when he has to play, he’ll be ready to play. As a young quarterback, there’s so many different things that you’re going to have to go through. There’ll be ups and downs, but in terms of the process that we’re doing with him, each day, he does a little bit better. Meetings, protections, show team. We’ll continue to do that.”
A reasonable plan, but you knew that if this passing game came out similarly slow against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the media and fans (and perhaps team ownership) would be doubling down about the change. Dart had looked quite good in the preseason without receiver Malik Nabers, the Giants’ best offensive player and one of the most dominant receivers in the game.
Against a Cowboys defense that Jerry Jones assures us is somehow better without Micah Parsons, Wilson did his level best through most of the game to replay Daboll’s faith in him. Overall, Wilson’s stat line in the Giants’ 40-37 overtime loss to the Cowboys was completely nuts — 30 completions in 41 attempts for 450 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 123.0. This while offensive tackle James Hudson was having an all-time meltdown.
Wilson was especially deadly when throwing deep (which has always been a strength throughout his career), and when Nabers was his target.
The Cowboys had no answers for Nabers, who caught nine passes on 13 targets for 167 yards and two touchdowns, and they were similarly bollixed by the efforts of receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who caught eight passes on 10 targets for 142 yards, and a score of his own.
If the Giants’ defense had half a clue how to stop Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense, this could have been a rout, but they didn’t… and it wasn’t. Prescott completed 38 of 52 passes for 361 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 96.7 in a game that would have been more appropriate on Big 12 After Dark as opposed to NFL RedZone.
Still, with the score 37-37 in overtime, the Giants had a bead on a crucial win. With 2:09 left in the fifth quarter, and the ball on the New York 30-yard line, Wilson had the time and the talent around him to get his team in field goal range.
Instead, he tried another deep shot to Nabers, with less than optimal results, thanks to Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson. As was adeptly explained on the broadcast by FOX Sports’ Greg Olsen, Nabers ran a corner route, and Wilson was doing something no short quarterback should ever do — he threw the ball over the middle, with bodies in front of him, in fadeaway jumper style more toward the seam, where Donovan Wilson was, and none of Russell Wilson’s receivers were.
Someone needs to tell this dude that he ain’t Steph Curry. From here, Brandon Aubrey’s 46-yard game-winning field goal for the Cowboys as time expired was a mere formality.
In the end, this is the problem with Russell Wilson, and it’s the same problem that has always existed. As much as he can adhere to an offensive game plan for a while with impressive results, that rogue voice in his head that tells him that he can be Evel Knievel eventually gets louder.
Brian Daboll has an interesting decision to make as the Giants prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday night. Does he bet on the good version of Russell Wilson, knowing that Kansas City’s defense is vulnerable, or does he go with the kid, and get that developmental process going?
Because there’s one thing we know: As much as Russell Wilson will impress to a point, he will also color outside the line when there’s no sense in doing so. Daboll and the Giants were the latest to live through that process, and we’ll have to see how many more times they want to do it.
Geno Smith Fires Back at Charles Woodson: "We’ll Show Him Tonight"
The Las Vegas Raiders have been under the microscope since Charles Woodson’s bold comments calling out the team’s inability to win at home. Woodson, a franchise legend, stated that if the Raiders want to be considered a playoff contender, they have to start defending their house. While some players may shy away from such pressure, quarterback Geno Smith is embracing the challenge—and he’s ready to prove Woodson, and everyone else, wrong.
In an exclusive statement ahead of the Raiders’ home game, Smith responded to the criticism with confidence: "CHARLES WOODSON THINKS WE CAN'T WIN AT HOME? WE'LL SHOW HIM TONIGHT." His message was clear: The Silver and Black are not just going to roll over—they’re going to fight back and make a statement on their home turf.
Smith, who has quickly become the focal point of the Raiders' offense, has been playing with an intensity that mirrors his words. In his last performance, he threw for over 350 yards and led the team to a crucial victory, further cementing his role as the leader this franchise needs. The Raiders' offense is clicking, and Smith knows that this game will serve as the perfect opportunity to prove that Las Vegas can win at home when it counts.
The stakes are high. The Raiders have had their fair share of struggles in recent seasons, and while Smith has injected life into the offense, the question of consistency still looms. Woodson’s challenge to the team couldn’t have come at a better time. The Raiders now have a chance to prove their doubters wrong, especially on their home field, where they’ve struggled in past years.
With the home crowd behind them, Smith and the Raiders are prepared to deliver. "CHARLES WAS A LEGEND, BUT WE'RE WRITING OUR OWN STORY NOW. IF HE THINKS WE CAN'T WIN AT HOME, HE'LL SEE TONIGHT THAT WE'RE MORE THAN READY."
Smith’s words and actions have set the stage for a dramatic showdown. The Raiders aren’t just playing for a win—they’re playing for respect. If they can take down their opponents tonight, they’ll not only silence their critics but also lay the foundation for a season full of potential.
As the game kicks off, all eyes will be on Smith and the Raiders to see if they can back up their words. This is more than just a game; it’s a statement. And Smith is ready to lead the charge.
