LANDOVER, Md. — First Jaxson Dart.
It does not get more devastating than that.
Next, Brian Burns.
A blow to the entire defense and a loss in leadership in the locker room.
This double-whammy, these gut punches left physical and talent voids.
But what about the emotional wounds that might take a few weeks to clear from the psyches?
The Giants, collectively, might have needed more time to move on with the season.
If anyone felt that way, they would be left behind.
There would be support, but no minutes or hours in the schedule designated for hand-holding.
“No, I don’t really think that way,’’ coach John Harbaugh said. “To me, it’s like, to get their emotions out of the way? No, I never even thought about that. To me, it’s like, we’ve got a game on Sunday. We’re going to be out there on Sunday. You better get your act together. It’s the National Football League, and the team coming in certainly isn’t too worried about your feelings. So, you better be ready to go to battle. Or guys did that. They didn’t flinch. So, that was good.’’
You better get your act together.
Those were the marching orders and thus far, the Giants are in lockstep with their demanding head coach.
Jameis Winston is 2-0 in his two starts since Dart went down and even as those results do not tell the full tale of Winston’s performance, the record is the record.
The defense made two late-game stands the past two weeks.
There are signs the defense can survive without him.
“Well, I believe teamwork makes the dream work,’’ said Winston, certainly adept at turning a phrase. “When you have losses of significant players in back to back weeks — we had Jaxson then we had Burns — that has the capabilities of bringing the team closer together because we’re all we got. Every team has a one-year lifespan. When you lose your best players back to back like that, you find a way to come closer together and be your brother’s keeper and make a difference.’’
Getting through a long span — in this case, the last 15 games — with a backup quarterback is not conducive to extended success.
The last time Winston was a winning starter for a stretch of games was in 2021, when he went 5-2 with the Saints.
He takes a career record of 38-53 into Sunday’s game with the Commanders.
The trade for J.J. McCarthy was not intended as a threat, but he is waiting in the wings if things go south.
For the second time in three weeks, the Giants will face wind and rain — this time, leftovers from Hurricane Isaias.
Winston amid a nor’easter did not commit any turnovers but also did not produce any touchdowns in the Week 3 victory over the Titans.
After facing Cam Ward and Jacoby Brissett, the Giants now get Jayden Daniels, who was great as a rookie before injuries hit him hard.
He returns after missing the past two games with a dislocated left elbow, and he will wear a protective brace on his left arm.
Daniels will be without wide receiver Stefon Diggs and possibly also Terry McLaurin (both with hamstring problems).
This is a continuation of a visit through the soft underbelly of the Giants’ schedule.
They are alone in first place in what increasingly looks like a vulnerable NFC East because they beat three teams (Cowboys, Titans and Cardinals) with a combined record of 3-10.
The Commanders (1-3), Saints (1-3) and Texans (0-4) are the next three opponents until the Week 8 bye.
The Giants were the betting underdog, at home, to the winless Titans.
They are the betting underdog against the last-place Commanders.
There is belief outside the Giants building that this winning is not sustainable.
Inside?
“I feel there’s a lot more for us to be able to do to not put ourselves in those situations where we need the entire New York/New Jersey area almost having heart attacks,’’ guard Jon Runyan Jr. told The Post. “We can be playing a lot better and cleaner on offense to not put ourselves in that situation. Both of the last two games should not have been close.’’
