New York Jets vs New York Giants

The New York Jets and New York Giants renewed their annual preseason rivalry on August 16, 2025, at MetLife Stadium, but it was the Giants who controlled the night in a 31–12 victory. The tone was set early when Russell Wilson launched a perfect deep ball to rookie Beaux Collins for an 80-yard gain, setting up Devin Singletary’s short rushing touchdown to give the Giants momentum right out of the gate. From there, Big Blue never looked back, keeping their crosstown rivals chasing for the rest of the contest.

One of the biggest storylines of the night was rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s breakout performance. Making his preseason debut, Dart completed 13 straight passes at one point, finishing an efficient 14-of-16 for 137 yards with both a touchdown pass and a rushing score. His confidence in the pocket and ability to finish drives with points instantly energized Giants fans, sparking early conversations about his future role behind Russell Wilson.

The Jets tried to establish their identity on the ground, running the ball on their first ten plays with Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Justin Fields all contributing. While the rushing attack showed flashes, the passing game was nearly nonexistent, as Fields completed just one of five attempts for four yards. Head coach Aaron Glenn admitted afterward that the offense looked “sloppy,” acknowledging that New York’s aerial game lacked rhythm and struggled to complement the ground-heavy approach.

Defensively, the Jets had a mixed night. With Sauce Gardner sidelined, young corner Qwan’tez Stiggers stepped into the spotlight and produced an interception that briefly gave the Jets hope. However, he was also burned on the long Wilson-to-Collins strike, a reminder of the inconsistency in the secondary. The Giants capitalized on these defensive lapses with big plays through the air and steady red-zone execution, further exposing the Jets’ depth issues on that side of the ball.

When the dust settled, the Giants had reasons to celebrate across the board—an explosive veteran quarterback in Wilson, a promising rookie in Dart, and a defense that swarmed at key moments. The Jets, meanwhile, left MetLife Stadium with more questions than answers, needing to polish their passing game and tighten defensive coverage before the regular season arrives. For fans, it was a tale of two teams moving in very different preseason directions, with the Giants surging in confidence while the Jets search for stability.