Super Bowl champion coach shares why he thinks Giants made mistake with Jaxson Dart

On Tuesday, it was announced that the 0-3 New York Giants would bench veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in favor of promising rookie Jaxson Dart for Sunday's home game against the 3-0 Los Angeles Chargers.

During Tuesday's edition of "The Pat McAfee Show," Super Bowl champion head coach and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians explained why he feels the Giants made a mistake with their handling of Dart after the preseason. 

When Bruce Arians thinks Giants should've made Jaxson Dart decision

"I'd have made it three weeks ago," Arians said about the Giants' decision to start Dart over Wilson. 

"You gotta get reps," Arians added about why Dart should've opened the season as the Giants' QB1. "...You can't learn anything just watching. You've got to physically do it. Your brain has to work so fast, and the only way to get that going is to get out there and play." 

Wilson passed for 450 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants' 40-37 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys back on Sept. 14. However, ESPN's Eric Moody noted that Wilson completed a combined 50.7 percent of his attempts for 328 yards with zero scores and two interceptions over the season's other two losses. Additionally, Wilson tallied zero red-zone touchdown passes in his three starts. 

Bruce Arians offers advice to Jaxson Dart

Along with completing 32-of-47 passes for 372 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions during the preseason, Dart rushed for 52 yards and a score on six carries over those outings. Arians thinks Dart's legs "can add so much" to the New York offense as long as the 22-year-old protects himself. 

Dart was checked for a concussion after he took an unnecessary hit in the Giants' preseason finale in August. 

"Now be smart and slide," Arians said about Dart. "You don't have to show how tough you are, get your (expletive) hurt. His legs will help get some first downs that they haven't had. ...And he can throw the (expletive) football really well."

Hours after news about Dart making his first start went public, ESPN BET had the winless Giants as 6.5-point home underdogs against the unbeaten Chargers in Week 4.