Jaxson Dart capitalized on his first opportunity to become public enemy No. 1 in Philadelphia when he led the Giants to an upset win over the Eagles in Week 6.
Just two weeks later, the rookie is headed to the place he's liked the least. His longest-tenured teammate knows what awaits Dart in the City of Brotherly Love on Sunday.
"I mean, if he didn't have any haters, he'll find out where they all live," veteran Giants receiver Darius Slayton said on Wednesday. "He's about to get introduced to all of them."
Having spent years in major college football at Ole Miss, Dart isn't a stranger to entering a hostile environment. This one, however, will be a little different and will require the advice and support of his more seasoned teammates -- plus a little mental resilience.
Through four starts, Dart has appeared well-equipped to handle the rigors of the NFL. He is 2-2 as a starter, has completed 60.2 percent of his passes, owns a 7-3 TD-INT ratio and an 89.3 passer rating and has added 178 rushing yards and three scores on the ground to his stat line. He's done so while playing against three quality opponents in the Chargers, Eagles and Broncos, and none have overwhelmed him.
The unfriendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field, however, are a different beast.
"You know you got to stick close to your brothers in the locker room, just kind of stay as tight as one group because that team and that fan base, they're going to get a little gritty on the sidelines," tight end Daniel Bellinger said, via the New York Post. "I would tell him, 'Listen, focus on you, focus on the team and stick together and not worry about the outside noise.' "
The Giants have heard plenty of noise well before they selected Dart with a first-round pick in April, but since they made the switch from Russell Wilson to Dart, they've largely tuned it out. They also own bragging rights over the Eagles, increasing the animosity that awaits them in Philadelphia.
Luckily, Dart seems to be built for the challenge. He's an usually confident rookie with the stats to match, and if he were to lead the Giants to a season sweep of the rival Eagles, he'd become a hero in New York.
The rookie will look to add another memorable chapter to his nascent professional career with a win Sunday.
