Jaxson Dart laments 'unacceptable' interception in fourth quarter of Giants' 33-32 collapse at Broncos
Giants rookie quarterbackJaxson Dart accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), including the go-ahead score and what would have been his early NFL career's first game-winning drive.
However, after New York blew an 18-point lead with more than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter Sunday's 33-32 loss at the Denver Broncos, he harped on what he did not do.
"It's really frustrating, man," Dart said. "I'm trying to put it all together. We had chances to win the game. Didn't do it. It's frustrating."
The Giants (2-5) led 26-16 with fewer than five minutes left in the fourth quarter when Justin Strnad intercepted Dart's third-and-5 pass short over the middle intended for tight end Theo Johnson for a 21-yard return to New York's 19.
Four plays later, Bo Nix's second-and-goal touchdown pass to RJ Harvey from a couple yards out cut the Giants' lead to 26-23 with 3:51 left.
"My feet got a little stuck in the ground," Dart said. "I've got to be way better than that. That s--t's unacceptable. I've got to be better."
"I can't do that," Dart added after a follow-up question about the interception. "We were in full control of the game. In that situation, you can't do that. So, that was an unacceptable mistake by me."
Dart and the Giants lacked an initial response, posting a three-and-out after getting the ball back with 3:51 left.
The Broncos (5-2) subsequently took their first lead of the game, 30-26, when they went 68 yards in six plays and 51 seconds.
"I never felt like we were going to lose the game," Dart said. "So, I looked at the clock when they scored. Said, 'Hey, we got a lot of time left.' I had no doubt that we were going to go down there and score."
Dart delivered a seven-play, 65-yard drive that ended with the go-ahead score.
New York's defense, however, allowed Denver's offense to go 56 yards in four plays and 37 seconds before Wil Lutz's game-winning field goal as time expired.
"Competitive, competitive guy," Giants coach Brian Daboll said of Dart. "We didn't make enough plays."
In his fourth start, Dart completed 15 of 33 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns to one interception while taking three sacks.
He rushed five times for 11 yards and one touchdown, which put the Giants back in front of a 32-30 lead with 37 seconds left.
"They found a little spark with that quarterback," said Broncos coach Sean Payton. "I was talking to John Mara not too long ago, and I said, 'We were hoping that that change would've happened long after our game.'"
The Giants seek a Week 8 rebound next Sunday at the Philadelphia Eagles, who improved to 5-2 atop the NFC East after Sunday's 28-22 win at the Minnesota Vikings.
"We play in six days, so you can't let one loss lead into another," Dart said. "You've got to fix those things we messed up on and we've got to finish games -- we have to be able to finish the game.
"We have good leaders on the team. We have good players. We have to find ways to finish the game and bounce back."