SEATTLE — After six seasons as a New York Giants quarterback, Daniel Jones understands the New York media expertise. That’s very true when interested by the ups (the 2022 playoff victory) and downs (the place do you even wish to start?) of his profession.
“There’ll at all times be a narrative of the week or a type of concept that’s on the market,” Jones defined Sunday. “It’s our job to know what’s actual and know what’s happening. To repair the issues which are actual but in addition to disregard the issues that aren’t.”
This previous week, Jones and his teammates have been tasked with attempting to disregard a story that urged the Giants had no likelihood to beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The considering went: This was a cross-country journey to one of the hostile environments within the NFL towards a top quality opponent with out two of their high playmakers in rookie sensation Malik Nabers and beginning operating again Devin Singletary. Coming off an unpleasant loss towards Dallas final Thursday, the Giants had no likelihood. A fall to 1-4 was a given.
Or so the story of the week went.
However Jones and his teammates didn’t let a foul narrative get in the best way of a very good day. On Sunday, they performed their most full sport of the 12 months en path to a 29-20 victory which may simply assist change the trajectory of their season.
Jones, particularly, seemed poised all through Sunday’s sport, racking up 257 yards and two touchdowns whereas going 23-of-34 passing. In fact, what’s extra essential than the standard stats — which he’s posted routinely these days — was marrying them with a win. In opposition to Dallas, Jones’ ultimate numbers seemed good, however the scoreboard didn’t.
On Sunday, Jones made each shine.
“It began with DJ simply dicing the protection up, being assured as hell and simply throwing the ball downfield,” proper sort out Jermaine Eluemunor stated after Sunday’s victory.
Really, the best way issues began Sunday, it actually didn’t appear to be a win was within the offing for New York. Actually, the Giants’ first offensive play appeared to predict a rocky afternoon, as Jones tripped within the pocket after which fumbled, pushing the Giants inside 5 yards of their very own finish zone. Jones recovered, nevertheless, and proceeded to guide a 10-minute drive down the sphere which ended catastrophically. Operating again Eric Grey fumbled whereas diving into the top zone, and Seahawks security Rayshawn Jenkins recovered it earlier than operating 102 yards for a Seattle landing.
99 yards and a skip into the endzone…
TOUCHDOWN RAYSHAWN JENKINS! pic.twitter.com/XY4wpFXLwI
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 6, 2024
However the Giants didn’t let the devastating begin derail them. As a substitute, two collection later, Jones marched the Giants 81 yards down the sphere and knotted the sport 7-to-7 with a landing go to Wan’Dale Robinson.
That is six for Robinson 🫡
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/uoRBHFsui5
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 6, 2024
Jones arrange that 7-yard strike to Robinson with an 11-yard scamper. That was his longest run of a sport wherein he relied on his legs fairly a bit. Jones rushed 11 instances — greater than any sport for the reason that 2023 season-opener (13) — for 38 yards.
Whereas Jones’ legs are an asset, he ought to most likely be extra cautious going ahead, as he took just a few cringe-inducing hits — although he delivered just a few hits of his personal, reducing his shoulder and impressing his teammates.
“That man doesn’t really feel ache as a result of he was operating proper into the fricking smoke all day right this moment,” Eluemunor stated. “I imply as an offensive lineman, you’ll run by a brick wall for that kind of man.”
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Fortuitously for Jones’ well being, the Giants operating sport didn’t rely solely on him attempting to be a battering ram. Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. stepped up within the absence of Singletary, dashing for 129 yards on 18 carries in his first profession begin. Grey, the second-year again, added 50 receiving yards on three receptions.
But it surely was the passing sport the place the Giants shined. Per week after taking quite a lot of criticism for lacking his deep photographs, Jones related on Sunday.
He completed 2-for-2 on passes that traveled 20-plus yards within the air, each of which went to veteran receiver Darius Slayton on the identical drive. He hit Slayton down the close to sideline for a 41-yard acquire earlier than connecting with Slayton once more on a 30-yard rating three performs later.
DJ LAUNCHES TO SLAYTON 🚀
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Ei9YalCAPD
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 6, 2024
That Jones was so productive Sunday with out Nabers, who had a league-high goal share of 38.2 % coming into the sport, is encouraging. It’s much more encouraging that Jones retains stringing collectively high quality video games. Over the previous 4 weeks, Jones has accomplished 67.6 % of passes, thrown for 952 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception whereas taking solely seven sacks. Jones’ 0.18 EPA/dropback throughout that stretch (Weeks 2-5) ranked sixth within the league getting into “Sunday Night time Soccer.” Even along with his abysmal Week 1 factored in, Jones is fifteenth within the NFL in EPA/dropback (0.04).
“It’s by no means been simple for him, however all the pieces we’ve requested him to do, he does it the easiest he can do it,” coach Brian Daboll stated. “He’s performed some good soccer right here. We’re going to wish him to proceed to do this.”
It’s been and up-and-down begin for New York, now 2-3, however the Giants offense has seemed higher every sport and this week a minimum of, the ultimate rating mirrored that.
“I really feel like I’m a greater participant than I used to be then,” Jones stated when requested if he feels he’s again to his 2022 playoff stage. “I’m a greater participant each week. That’s what you’re at all times striving for. I get evaluating to ’22 or years previous or no matter that — I don’t know the way productive that actually is. Simply give attention to getting higher proper now and being the perfect I could be week to week.”
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That’s a storyline you may at all times depend on with Jones.
(Photograph: Rio Giancarlo / Getty Pictures)