Jevon Holland credits ‘calm psycho’ John Harbaugh for saving Giants’ season after Jaxson Dart injury

Safety Jevon Holland played the role of hero for the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon, as his interception in the end zone with under 30 seconds remaining in regulation secured an ugly 12-7 home win over the lowly Tennessee Titans (0-3) that improved the Giants to 2-1 on the season. 

While speaking in the locker room after the victory, Giants running back Cam Skattebo suggested that head coach John Harbaugh is the biggest reason Big Blue won a game the team might have lost roughly 12 months ago. During a chat with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Holland expanded on Harbaugh’s importance to the Giants. 

Giants have taken “the personality” of John Harbaugh

“Everything is a testament to Harbaugh,” Holland told Breer. “A team takes the personality of the coach, and Harbs is a calm…he’s a calm psycho. I mean, he loves the game, and he explains the game and the mindset for the game in such a unique way, but so clear to the fellas that we’re able to tangibly apply the things that he wants us to do. It’s building this football war machine, so that no matter what the circumstances are, we’re able to come out on top.”

Outsiders wondered how the Giants would respond to starting quarterback Jaxson Dart being lost for at least the rest of the regular season due to the knee injury he suffered at the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 21. New York seemingly never recovered from the Dart setback during that “Monday Night Football” game, as they suffered a 28-6 defeat against the Rams. 

While Giants backup Jameis Winston failed to lead the team on a single touchdown drive against the Titans, it’s worth noting the game was played in Nor’easter conditions that caused many fans to stay home and watch the action from their couches. Winston will start when the Giants host the 1-2 Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 4. 

John Harbaugh will challenge Giants players “to still do your job” amid setbacks

“The team was upset because Jaxson is our leader, and everybody wants to see him out there and playing. He cares so much,” Holland added during his conversation with Breer. “Harbs summed it up when he said he woke up Tuesday and he heard that Jaxson wasn’t gonna be playing, he was out for the season, and it sucked, like it’s the end of the world. And then you wake up on Wednesday and you have to still do your job. And that’s the reality of the situation.” 

Harbaugh’s messaging may become even more important for the Giants after star pass-rusher Brian Burns reportedly suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the win over the Titans. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had New York as a 1.5-point home underdog against Arizona.