NY Giants quarterback Daniel Jones struggled mightily, as the offense never generated much of a rhythm in ugly Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos
Another NY Giants’ season, another NY Giants’ Week 1 loss.
It’s truly become a part of this team’s DNA.
For some reason, the Giants are not able to string together a complete game, half, quarter, or even have back-to-back drives without catastrophe and mass incompetence.
The NY Giants lost in Week 1 for the ninth time in 10 years. It’s truly a hard feat. Losing 9 of 10 season openers may be as hard as winning 9 of 10 too. No NFL team should ever be that consistently slow to start the season and be as bad as the Giants were Sunday.
There was a great concern heading into the year about the Giants’ offensive line play. The thought was that the five guys up front wouldn’t be able to pass protect for Daniel Jones and give him time to throw. Actually, the line performed pretty solid in pass blocking. In their run blocking attempts, they found little to zero success trying anything on the ground.
Jones had another mixed bag performance Sunday.
It was much of the same from the same Daniel Jones we’ve seen for over 730 days now. It’s time for him to step up, rise to the occasion, and overcome his team’s weaknesses to be seen as the franchise QB. Another performance like today’s will not inspire confidence for a QB who’s playing for his job next year.
Here’s a closer look at Daniel Jones’ Week 1 Performance in the NY Giants’ loss:
NY Giants QB Daniel Jones’ Best Moments of The Day
There weren’t many bright spots for the NY Giants, but there were a few positives that stood out.
To start off, the NY Giants actually got off to a great start in their first three plays. On the third play from scrimmage on 3rd down, Jones hit Darius Slayton on the right sidelines for a gorgeous 42-yard completion. The play instantly electrified the Metlife Stadium crowd and sent them into a frenzy.
It was an exciting moment for an anemic offense and a fanbase that has desperately watched them struggle to hit big plays or put up 20 points with zero points.
From there, the drive completely stalled and only went backward.1st & 10 from Denver’s 30-yard line becoming 4th & 23 punting from the Broncos’ 43-yard line is a horrible look. The NY Giants got off to a fast start thanks to a great strike from Jones and yet were still unable to capitalize.
Jones’ biggest throw of the day came in the 2nd quarter. Jones orchestrated a 7-play, 4:22 minute drive that spanned 75 yards. Jones capped it off with a nice throw to the outside for Sterling Shepard. Shep did the rest and fought his way to the end zone for the game’s first touchdown and the Giants’ first lead of 2021 at 7-3.
NY Giants QB Daniel Jones’ Worst Moment of The Day
As almost always, there was the backbreaking play from Daniel Jones. There’s a sense of feeling inevitable that Jones will turn the ball over at least once a game. After quietly holding onto the ball for 2.5 quarters, Jones obviously coughed it up in the 3rd quarter.
Coming off a Broncos touchdown, Denver extended its’ lead to go up 17-7. As the Giants struggle with 10-point deficits as if it was 100 points, it was obvious they desperately needed to respond with points of their own or this game would effectively be over. And of course, it was the ladder that happened.
Jones led a 10-play, 60-yard drive for 4 minutes straight. Everything was going well on the drive and the Giants impressively marched up the field. After converting three straight 3rd downs including the immediate play before this, Jones was leading a very good drive to match Denver’s impressive drive too.
On first and 10 from the Denver 22, Jones ran for seven yards. All looked good for the 3rd year QB who seemingly was setting his team up for an advantageous 2nd & short opportunity. Instead, Jones did not slide as defenders converged on him. He lost the ball and Denver pounced on it at their own 15-yard line.
It was another gut punch for the Giants and was the beginning of the end of this game. More of the same from Jones who still has shown a knack for losing the football with very little caution.
Daniel Jones’ Overall Week 1 Grade: C-
Jones did not do nearly enough to win Sunday afternoon.
Seven points through 59 minutes of football aren’t acceptable.
It’s simply inexcusable to allow it in today’s offense-crazed NFL. Teams fall into free yards and easy points seemingly by accident at times. The Giants can’t ever seem to be under either category.
Jones has to be better in Week 2, simple as that. He needs more help from his running backs, receivers, and tight ends, that much is certain. However, he needs to step up and elevate his play to start actually rising to the occasion that is NFL football games.
At some point, you have to stop talking about it and finally start to see it. Jones was not his best version of himself today and did very little to help the team or elevate the invisible offense’s abilities.
Jones showed much of the same of who he was in 2019 & 2020. Until that changes, lengthy questions will remain about his ‘franchise QB’ status.