Can Giants QB Daniel Jones change the narrative around him? Maybe not, but wins will help

October 7, 2024

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Can Giants QB Daniel Jones change the narrative around him? Maybe not, but wins will help

SEATTLE — After six seasons as a quarterback for the New York Giants, Daniel Jones understands the New York media experience. That’s especially true when you think about the ups (the 2022 playoff win) and downs (where do you even start?) of his career.

“There will always be a story of the week or some kind of idea,” Jones explained on Sunday. “It’s our job to know what’s real and what’s going on. To solve the problems that are real, but also to ignore the things that are not.”

This past week, Jones and his teammates were told to ignore a story that suggested the Giants had no chance of beating the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The thinking went: This was a cross-country trip into one of the most hostile environments in the NFL against a quality opponent without two of their best playmakers in rookie sensation Malik Nabers and starting running back Devin Singletary. After an ugly loss to Dallas last Thursday, the Giants had no chance. A drop to 1-4 was a given.

That was the story of the week.

But Jones and his teammates didn’t let a bad story get in the way of a good day. On Sunday, they played their most complete game of the year en route to a 29-20 win that might just change the trajectory of their season.

Jones in particular looked poised in Sunday’s game, racking up 257 yards and two touchdowns while going 23 of 34 passing. Of course, what was more important than the quality stats – which he has been routinely posting lately – was that they married with a win. Against Dallas, Jones’ final numbers looked good, but the scoreboard did not.

On Sunday, Jones made both shine.

“It all started with DJ carving up the defense, being extremely confident and just throwing the ball downfield,” right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said after Sunday’s win.

The way things started on Sunday, it certainly didn’t seem like a win was in the offing for New York. In fact, the Giants’ first offensive play seemed to portend a tough afternoon, when Jones stumbled in the pocket and then fumbled, pushing the Giants within five yards of their own end zone. However, Jones recovered to lead a 10-minute drive across the field which ended catastrophically. Running back Eric Gray fumbled while diving into the end zone, and Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins recovered it before running 102 yards for a Seattle touchdown.

99 yards and a leap to the end zone…

TOUCHDOWN RAYSHAWN JENKINS! pic.twitter.com/XY4wpFXLwI

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 6, 2024

But the Giants didn’t let the devastating start derail them. Instead, two series later, Jones marched the Giants 81 yards down the field and knotted the game at 7-on-7 with a touchdown pass to Wan’Dale Robinson.

That’s six for Robinson 🫡

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/uoRBHFsui5

— New York Giants (@Giants) October 6, 2024

Jones set up that 7-yard strike to Robinson with an 11-yard run. That was his longest run of a match in which he relied quite heavily on his legs. Jones rushed 11 times – more than any game since the 2023 season opener (13) – for 38 yards.

While Jones’ legs are an asset, he should probably be more careful in the build-up as he took a few cringe-inducing hits – though he delivered a few hits himself, lowered his shoulder and impressed his teammates.

“That man doesn’t feel any pain because he ran into the damn smoke all day today,” Eluemunor said. “I mean, as an offensive lineman, you run through a brick wall for guys like that.”

GO DEEPER

Giants return blocked field goal for TD to beat Seahawks

Fortunately for Jones’ health, the Giants’ running game didn’t rely solely on him trying to be a battering ram. Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. stepped up in Singletary’s absence and rushed for 129 yards on 18 carries in his first career start. Gray, the sophomore back, added 50 receiving yards on three receptions.

But it was the passing game where the Giants shined. A week after receiving widespread criticism for missing his deep shots, Jones connected on Sunday.

He finished 2-for-2 on passes that traveled more than twenty yards in the air, both of which went to veteran receiver Darius Slayton on the same drive. He hit Slayton down the sideline for a 41-yard gain before reconnecting with Slayton on a 30-yard score three plays later.

DJ LAUNCHES TO SLAYTON 🚀

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Ei9YalCAPD

— New York Giants (@Giants) October 6, 2024

That Jones was so productive on Sunday without Nabers, who had a league target percentage of 38.2 percent, is encouraging. It’s even more encouraging that Jones continues to string together quality games. Over the past four weeks, Jones has completed 67.6 percent of passes, thrown for 952 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception, while recording just seven sacks. Jones’ 0.18 EPA/dropback during that stretch (Weeks 2-5) ranked sixth in the league on “Sunday Night Football.” Even counting his dismal Week 1, Jones is 15th in the NFL in EPA/dropback (0.04).

“It’s never been easy for him, but everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s doing the best he can,” coach Brian Daboll said. “He has played good football here. We need him to continue to do that.”

It’s been an up and down start for New York, now 2-3, but the Giants offense has looked better every game and at least this week the final score reflected that.

“I feel like I’m a better player than I was back then,” Jones said when asked if he feels like he’s back to his 2022 playoff level. “I’m getting a better player every week. That is what you always strive for. I compare it to ’22 or years ago or whatever – I don’t know how productive that really is. Just focus on getting better now and being the best you can be from week to week.”