Daniel Jones, still making mistakes, still unable to beat bad defenses

Daniel Jones and the NY Giants failed to beat Dallas’ weak defense. Washington comes to town with a stronger force.

The NY Giants started last Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys red hot. It was as if all the pieces were finally in place to get the team to click. Then, as he’s done in all but one NFL game he’s played in, quarterback Daniel Jones turned the ball over.

Oh, and he fumbled in that one game too, but the 2019 Washington Football Team was unable to recover it. Washington remains one of two teams Jones has beaten.

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Despite starting the season 0-4, the Giants could have very well remained relevant had they beat the Cowboys. But Dallas, which came into the game with one of the worst defenses in the league, and lost starting QB Dak Prescott to a horrific injury in the second half, found a way to squander the Giants’ 14-point lead and come back to win.

Jones had all offseason to work on his biggest liability, but he has not gotten better at protecting the ball. He has turned the ball over at least once in every game this season, and in three of the games he’s turned it over twice.

He’s also been sacked 16 times this season – tied for fourth most in the NFL. Though the offensive line looks as bad as it’s ever been, Jones looks confused and unsure each time he drops back. And his inability to safely get the ball out of trouble leads to his turnovers.

The big difference between Jones and Eli Manning was to be Jones’ mobility. In fact, Jones does lead the team with 130 rushing yards and is sixth among QBs thus far this year.

But the Giants are dead last in rushing yards per game, with 79, so it isn’t helping the overall team. And Jones ran just twice for negative seven yards against a Dallas rush defense that allows more than 155 rushing yards per game. Further, the Cowboys held the Giants to just 89 rushing yards total.

Broadcasters continue to tout the potential they see in Jones. And if a 0-5 start won’t light a fire under Jones to show more, perhaps playing the team that makes up two of his three wins will.

The Washington Football Team is bad, but their defense currently ranks higher than the Cowboys in rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, and points per game. Washington also has more takeaways than the Cowboys.

Mistakes have the potential to make Washington look better than they are. Washington comes to town with a better turnover ratio than the Giants. Perhaps the ball bounces toward Washington if — or when — Jones fumbles in this matchup. If so, Washington may do what they couldn’t do last season, beat Daniel Jones.

Good teams find a way to win. Bad teams find a way to lose. And bad players find a way to be bad. Jones appears to have found his, and he’s sticking to it until he’s relieved of his duty.