Russell Wilson’s Giants debut looks a lot like what the Broncos warned about

Russell Wilson’s slow start in blue raises old questions

This was supposed to be the fresh start. New uniform, new play-caller, new weapons. But through the early stages of Week 1 against Washington, Russell Wilson looked uncomfortably familiar to anyone who watched his late-Denver days. The numbers tell the story of a stuck offense: 9-of-16 passing for 69 yards, two sacks allowed, four punts, three penalties, and a 3-for-9 mark on third down. The Giants’ leading rusher had just 20 yards on seven carries, and rookie star Malik Nabers was limited to three grabs for 34 yards. That cocktail—empty early downs, third-and-long, a couple of flags—adds up to a debut that never found rhythm.

This is Wilson’s third team in as many seasons and his fourth in the last five, a whirlwind for a quarterback who once lived in the MVP conversation. The bet New York made was simple: a veteran with playoff pelts could stabilize an offense that led the league in sacks allowed last year and too often played uphill. The early returns say the job won’t be that simple.

Washington didn’t do anything exotic. They rushed with discipline, kept contain, and dared the Giants to drive the long way. When New York fell behind the sticks, the plan unraveled. Wilson took two drive-killing sacks, and even when he got rid of the ball on time, most throws were underneath. With limited yards after the catch and little push in the run game, the Giants were stuck living on third down—and failing there.

Why this looks familiar—and what the Giants can fix

Broncos fans have seen this movie. Denver gambled big on Wilson, then spent two seasons trying to square his strengths with a modern, timing-heavy offense. Late in 2023, he was benched for Jarrett Stidham. The core issues weren’t just accuracy or arm strength; they were about fit and rhythm. Wilson’s best work has long come off play-action, movement, and deep shot punches. When forced into pure dropback, quick-trigger football, he’s less comfortable. The ball hangs a beat, rushers arrive, and drives bog down.

New York’s situation adds another layer. The line is still gelling after a rough 2023 that saw the team lead the league in sacks allowed. Protection isn’t one player; it’s timing, trust, and scheme. When the ball doesn’t come out on schedule, even a solid pocket can collapse. That’s how you get the exact recipe we saw early: a couple negative plays, a penalty, and a punt.

So what can Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka do right now? Start by leaning into what Wilson still does well. Move the launch point—sprint outs, half-rolls, and boots. Push the ball at least once per series with a play-action shot to keep safeties honest. Live in the quick game on first down—hitches, slants, and option routes to Malik Nabers—to create second-and-manageable instead of second-and-10. Use bunch and stacks to free Wilson from press looks and clarify reads. And when Washington shows pressure, make the hot answer obvious with a back or tight end flashing into space.

Nabers is the hinge. He creates separation fast, and that’s a gift for a quarterback who needs clean answers early in the down. Feature him on choice routes, shallow crossers, and the occasional deep over off play-action. Force a corner to tackle him in space and you change how the defense calls the next series. Once the ball starts moving, the run game opens—inside zone becomes viable, and the boot game that Wilson prefers starts to bite.

It’s also fair to ask about the rookie waiting behind him. Jaxson Dart brings mobility and a quick trigger from his college tape, and in New York, every slow Sunday turns up the temperature on the quarterback room. Benching talk will surface if the offense keeps stalling. That’s not drama for drama’s sake; it’s what happened in Denver in 2023, and this staff won’t hesitate if they think the room needs a jolt. But the smartest path is to fix the plan before flipping the switch: adjust the script, tighten the third-down menu, and protect the pocket with tempo and heavier formations.

There’s another reality worth stating: Week 1 lies. Openers are messy across the league. Defenses are usually ahead. Timing improves by Halloween. What’s concerning here is not one bad stat line; it’s how closely the issues track with the last few years. Third-and-long. Sacks on obvious passing downs. Limited middle-of-the-field targets. That’s the pattern Denver tried to break before cutting ties and starting the Bo Nix era.

For the Giants, the fix isn’t exotic. Get ahead of the sticks. Make easy throws feel easy. Build a few explosive shots to punish aggressive safeties. And above all, commit to an identity that fits the quarterback you actually have today, not the one who thrived a decade ago. If New York can do that, this debut will fade into memory as a clunky start. If they can’t, the calls for Dart will grow louder, and Wilson will find himself back in a familiar place: fighting not just the rush, but the clock on another job.