Giants 34, Cowboys 17
Q. Could you describe the emotion of this one in the locker room and everything this entailed?
JAXSON DART: Obviously, this is the last time this group is able to go out on the field together. We wanted to make the most of our opportunities together and just proud of the guys that we were able to stay together this week and put together a good plan and be out there on the field and compete at a high level.
I didn't feel like there was any guys who really took it off or lowered the intensity. So it's a way better feeling to win a game like this for sure.
Q. What's it like having Gunner there? Did you have any quarterback tips for him to set his feet differently?
JAXSON DART: Shoot. I feel bad for him and Chris on that one. I know they both want that back. But Gunner played a great game, and he was very prepared all throughout the week. He's a guy in the locker room that everybody loves. I knew that him coming up and filling a role this week, I knew that I was going to get everything that he had.
He's just a guy that competes at a really high level, who you can trust, who is going to give it his all. I was proud and happy he was able to get 100 today. But, yeah, we've got to talk about that throw for sure. We can't let that slide.
Q. Can you talk about how would you describe what you had to do on the play for Bellinger to score the touchdown?
JAXSON DART: Oh, yeah. Just had a double-sided screen fake to one side. The guy got upfield fast so I was like, crap, I've got to make something happen here. He kind of got my face mask so made me stumble a little bit. I knew that he was kind of a little scotch-free so just tried to give him an opportunity. He got his knees up when he was running so he looked good scoring that touchdown. I was happy for him. It was a good play for our team.
Q. (No audio).
JAXSON DART: Just gotta make it happen. Gotta flip it.
Q. Have you been able to build a relationship with John Mara since you've been here, and what does it mean to win this one for him?
JAXSON DART: Obviously, he's gone through a lot so the fact that he shows up for us, still comes to the facility to work, and he just loves ball. He loves this organization. He gives it everything that he has.
From my perspective and everybody around here just has the utmost respect for him and is rooting for him and praying for him. I just think that he's a special individual and to continue to support us while he's going through probably the hardest time of his life right now says a lot.
Q. What was it like to see him get the game ball?
JAXSON DART: It was sweet. It was just a good moment for us as a team and for him to be the leader of our organization for sure. So I was definitely happy for that.
Q. Obviously, you're relatively new and he's dealing with what he's dealing with. How much have you been able to build a relationship with him?
JAXSON DART: We talk, like, when we have the opportunity when he's at the facility, and we are texting each other as well. So it's been cool to create that relationship between each other, even though he's going through this. Like I said, I have the utmost respect for him. He's the head of everything in bringing me in here. So I was happy to finish this season with a win.
Q. Can you talk about the connection with Tyrone Tracy?
JAXSON DART: Tracy is a baller. He's a guy who can do a little bit of everything. He's just a back that's so dependable in the pass game and the run game and does a good job with protections as well.
He's a really positive spirit throughout the locker room too. So I just love growing a relationship with him. We know we'll play with each other for a long time. So this is just a steppingstone for us of what we see our future like. So I was happy for him being able to reach that benchmark today as well.
Q. It's been a long losing streak against the Cowboys and against Dak Prescott specifically. How do you feel to be a part of stopping those streaks?
JAXSON DART: Yeah, honestly, I don't even know what the streak is.
Q. Nine games, I believe, regular season games; 14 against Dak.
JAXSON DART: That's crazy. Well, that's good to stop that for sure. Dak's a helluva player. I know that the rivalry between the Cowboys and the Giants goes way back so it was definitely a good week of prep for us to go out and put on the performance that we did. I haven't been part of that. Hopefully, we can get things back on track.
Q. Jaxson, I know you're team first. How satisfying is it, how good is it for you to finish strong, two wins playing really well heading into the off-season program?
JAXSON DART: Definitely a better feeling than it being flipped. But I'm confident in myself. Every time I step on the field, I feel like I'm a player who can shift the game, change it in a way for our team to win. That's just the kind of confidence that I have from how I prepare each and every day, how I compete. So I was proud of being able to bounce back from that Minnesota game and to have two solid weeks to come out with wins going into this off-season. Things are going to change here.
Q. Why do you say that? What makes you so certain things are going to change here? What makes you think you're heading in that direction?
JAXSON DART: Because there's no other option. Obviously, I'm not going to lead in a way that's not having the highest expectation in mind with everybody around me. I know we have guys in place that have the same mindset. Abdul gave a talk at the end of us breaking it down as well. So we just have that energy and the outlook that it's just the only way it can go.
Q. Jaxson, there are a number of quarterbacks this year who went through issues. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye. They turned it around, and both of those guys are in the playoffs. Is that what your focus is (no microphone).
JAXSON DART: Absolutely. Absolutely. We can't accept what happened this year to happen ever again. I'm excited for the off-season to grow that culture and help put my hand in it. But it's going to have me and everybody else sick that we're going to have to watch other teams play, and we've got to make sure that we don't let that happen again.
Q. (No microphone).
JAXSON DART: I don't know if I could point out one moment. I would just say probably just like the relationships that I've built here from my teammates to the coaches to everybody involved in the organization. Just a lot of really good people here.
I don't think that -- you don't really know what you're stepping into at times going up from college to the NFL because you hear it's more business, like the locker room's different. But I've just been really impressed by the type of character that we have in this organization and just grateful to be able to make those relationships for a lifetime.
Q. Jaxson, I know you've been focused on your primary job, your professional job. Have you been sneaking a peek at your alma mater?
JAXSON DART: Hell yeah. We're rollin'. I'm excited. I'm going to be at the game this next one in Arizona and supporting those guys. And they've got a squad. They've got a lot of guys who are playing with a chip on their shoulder and with a purpose. So I'm excited to see them go make a run at it, and it's going to be a really cool thing to be able to experience from the outside.
Q. Jaxson, talking about the touchdown pass to Bellinger, Bellinger said that there's just something about you that makes believing impossible is possible. From your perspective, what about your game or your personality or how you approach things allows other people to believe?
JAXSON DART: That's very nice of him to say. I always try to give everything I have when I'm on the field. I try to be a spark, and I definitely want people to believe because I believe. And really the biggest thing is I have the utmost confidence, regardless of who's playing.
Today, offensively, it was like we went out there with our starters. We had a lot of guys down, and I just have the utmost confidence in all the guys to make plays, and I try to give that belief to everybody around me. I just want the guys to know regardless of the situation, I'm going to give it my all to win the game. That was very nice for him to say.
Thank you all.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports