Why the Giants Week 11 Starting Quarterback Will Be a Better Starter Than Russell Wilson

The Giants have had a massive turn of events this season. From coach firings to players going out with injuries, and now what is happening in their own quarterback room. It hasn’t been an easy season, but there definitely is a shake-up happening this week. Jameis Winston is stepping in as the starting quarterback. Winston getting the chance to start is an area that no one saw coming. It’s definitely something different for the Giants, but it is a well-needed change while rookie Jaxson Dart is in concussion protocol.

Winston has played in the NFL for over 10 years, approaching his first start in Year 11. He was the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has played for the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, and now, the New York Giants. Winston earned his only Pro Bowl nomination in his 2015 rookie season with the Buccaneers. It was surprising that the Giants didn't start him earlier this season, considering he has been on the active roster the entire year. However, he has been a decent player for the Giants, and it really showed early in the preseason. Two veterans and one rookie is usually a good way to go, and the Giants made the right choice on that avenue. 

Winston should have been brought onto the field as Darts' backup in the first place, considering the team's rebuilding scheme for this season and the one that is coming up next. Russell Wilson is an older quarterback than Winston by a handful of years. However, just because Wilson has appeared in multiple Super Bowls and been a Pro Bowler on several occasions does not mean he is the right person for the job. Wilson was a 2012 third-round pick, but his age is starting to show in terms of on-field efficiency. 

Wilson was known to be a semi-mobile quarterback. He’s comfortable playing both in and out of the pocket with his legs. The 36-year-old is an astute decision-maker when on the field. However, during his time with the Giants, when he has tried to get the ball out, he has been sacked 10 times in six appearances, has his worst completion percentage of his career, and was on track to surpass his interception totals. He also likes to be a big game player, but he hasn’t been able to show this during his first several weeks with New York. After the firing of Brian Daboll, the Giants thought it would be best to place Wilson down to third-string since there was a lack of success, and will turn to Wilson as a backup plan if need be for this weekend's matchup.

Winston, on the other hand, has set franchise records; he can pass the ball at elite levels. In 2019, he threw for over 5,000 yards. The only area that many are worried about this season is the number of turnovers that he may commit. In the 2019 season, he was leading the league in interceptions with 30. However, when he was with the Cleveland Browns, it did not occur as much. His consistency has been flagged, but most of the time, he has not had an offensive line to work with. This may also be the case for him for the time that he is taking to play on the field. 

The other thing to really look at for Winston is that he has the heart to play for this team. He had been in talks with New York before he actually signed with the team. Winston was excited and came in as a backup plan shortly after the Giants signed Russell Wilson. Shown by his vibrant personality, Winston has always shown that he likes to have fun playing the game and wants to get his team ready for game day just as Dart does. Wilson does the same thing, but he is more of a leader than someone who wants to have fun on the field. Winston has exactly what the Giants need and is ready to start this coming weekend.