Giants vs. Chargers: Preview, prediction, what to watch for in Week 4

Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Chargers NFL Week 4 matchup at MetLife Stadium: Giants OLB Brian Burns vs.

Chargers RT Trey PipkinsBurns is tied for second in the NFL in sacks with four — matching Myles Garrett and Byron Young, behind only Rashan Gary (4.5 sacks).Burns is off to a flying start to his second season with the Giants.

Pipkins, in his eighth year with the Chargers, has plenty of experience at tackle but started at right guard in 2024 to accommodate first-round pick Joe Alt.When stud left tackle Rashawn Slater went down in August with a season-ending knee injury, Alt moved to left tackle and Pipkins went to right tackle.Timing is everything: The Chargers are 3-0, and that means history does not bode well for Jaxson Dart.Rookie quarterbacks making their first career start against an unbeaten team in Week 4 or later are 0-4 since 2000, according to NextGen Stats.

The last rookie to win in this scenario? Phil Simms with the Giants in 1979.He made his first start in Week 6 and beat the 5-0 Buccaneers.

No wonder Simms wants to see Dart, now.“I was one of these guys,’’ Simms said on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio.“I was just a fan the first game or two, like, ‘Yeah, this is pretty cool,’ being on the sideline and watching the game.

And then Week 3, I remember looking out there going, ‘You know, I can do this.’ And then by Week 4 you’re like, ‘Shoot, when are they going to play me?’ And I’m sure Jaxson Dart is kind of in that same mold.’’Pick up the pace: It is up to the guys in charge to develop a game plan to suit the new quarterback.This means we are sure to see a more up-tempo attack on offense, with plenty of run-pass option plays in which Dart has the choice to hand it to his running back or tuck it and run with it himself.

Dart did plenty of no-huddle stuff at Ole Miss.“We’ve done that in the past ...