Big Hit On Jaxson Dart Reignites Patrick Mahomes Controversy With Fight Between Patriots And Giants
ESPN
Jaxson Dart took a big hit during the first quarter of Monday Night Football. It sparked a fight between the New England Patriots and New York Giants as his teammates tried to protect their quarterback.
Although the collision was completely legal, it raises one big question.
The NFL seems to protect certain signal-callers over others. What if this play involved Patrick Mahomes?
Jaxson Dart needs to protect himself.
There are a lot of things to like about Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. He has played extremely well during the first seven starts of his rookie season even if it is not reflected in New York’s record.
One of Dart’s qualities is the dawg in him. However, his natural instinct to fight for every yard often puts him in danger. Lane Kiffin often begged him to protect his body at Ole Miss. He just can’t help himself.
Brian Daboll asked his rookie quarterback to make better decisions at the start of the year.
Jameis Winston is still trying to teach him in Week 13. Even Tommy DeVito got involved during the preseason.
“Slide,” DeVito told Dart. “Dude, you don’t need to be taking these unnecessary hits. There are certain times in the game, situation, yes, I get it, be a ball player. Times like that, just go down.”
It just hasn’t clicked quite yet. Dart has not figured out when to fold and when to hold but he knows it is something to work on.
“Moving forward, I have to be more available for this team,” Dart said. “This is obviously on the forefront of my mind moving forward […] I’m still getting used to this game. I’m getting used to this speed, this level. In college, you can watch my tape, I very rarely slid. This is a different beast. For me, I have to obviously be more responsible when I’m in the open field. But I felt I was getting better at it each and every week.”
Monday night was a step in the right direction. Well, kind of.
One late slide, two hits.
With this learning curve at top of mind, Jaxson Dart tried his best to go down after he got stuck in the pocket on an awkward scramble during the first quarter of Monday Night Football. Patriots linebacker Harold Landry was breathing down his neck and he finally did what he was asked to do.
Harold Landry sacks Dart pic.twitter.com/Q6KOgArNk4
— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) December 2, 2025
It was a late slide so he still took a hit but at least he slid!
Jaxson Dart takes a hit on this late slide. His lineman come to his defense pic.twitter.com/vtiJxEiyN8
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) December 2, 2025
What happened next was not quite as positive.
Dart got absolutely hammered on the sideline by Christian Elliss because he did not get out of bounds fast enough. The big hit sparked a fight.
Players had to be separated after Patriots LB Christian Elliss hit Jaxson Dart along the sideline. pic.twitter.com/wZPTVasGSw
— ESPN (@espn) December 2, 2025
The hit was legal. Both of Dart’s feet and his body were still in the field of play. Eli and Peyton Manning agree.
“I like teammates defending their QB, but that was a legal hit.”
The ManningCast reacts to the Giants-Patriots scuffle after the big hit on Jaxson Dart. pic.twitter.com/fgYYenypbX
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) December 2, 2025
Like it or not, it was the right call.
What if it was Patrick Mahomes?
Although the officials were correct to keep the flag in the pocket for the hit on Jaxson Dart, it might have been called differently if it was a more high-profile veteran quarterback. Patrick Mahomes pretended to run out of bounds last season, cut back up field and kept running for a big gain.
The 49ers defense completely stopped in its tracks to avoid a penalty. If they had hit Mahomes like the Patriots hit Dart, it would’ve been flagged. In fact, the Raiders were called for a penalty just a few weeks later for finishing the play. And then Mahomes intentionally slowed down near the sideline to draw a flag during the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Texans and flopped.
The rule is the rule is the rule. NFL officials were right not to call a late hit on New England on Monday. Dartwas still in bounds. He needs to protect his body and he knows that.
But it begs the question… what if it was Mahomes?!
