It feels like just yesterday that the New York Giants were heading into Week 1 with Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback. After cutting ties with the $160-million experiment mid-season last year, that is no longer the reality for Giants fans looking to move past one of the most miserable seasons in the team’s 101-year existence.
Out are Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle. And in are Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart. It’s the dawn of a new day for Big Blue, but that doesn’t mean fans will just completely forget about the six years Danny Dimes quarterbacked the G-Men. Far from it.
That’s why fans have been taking notice and keeping track of Jones in his new starting role with the Indianapolis Colts. It’ll be his first time starting not in a Giants uniform. And if fans needed anything to look forward to in Week 1, NFL Spin Zone’s Ryan Heckman might have laid out the worst-case scenario for Indy’s season opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Daniel Jones is expected to ball out against the Dolphins in Week 1
Heckman's prediction is... bold. He believes Jones will throw three touchdowns against the Dolphins en route to a Week 1 victory:
"We can talk about the Dolphins' injuries in their defensive back field and the concerns with Tyreek Hill on offense, but that's a story for another day. This is about Daniel Jones, who will surprise everyone when he tosses a trio of touchdowns and leads the Colts to a Week 1 victory. Jones has been given a true chance at redemption, and at least against this Dolphins defense, he'll take advantage."
The three-touchdown prediction is eye-catching. Jones hasn’t thrown more than two TD passes in a game since Week 16 back in 2019. For reference, that would be 2,086 days ago. For those who don’t remember, Danny Dimes tossed five TD passes in a 41-35 victory over the Commanders — arguably the 28-year-old’s best game as a pro.
So what makes Heckman anticipate the Colts will magically unlock that version of Jones on Sunday? Yes, the Phins’ defensive backs aren’t anything to write home about, but three TD passes are tough enough to get on any defense. It only gets tougher with the former Duke product under center. This is a guy who has 73 turnovers in 70 career games, who flamed out spectacularly in New York.
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The reason likely comes from the abundance of playmakers Danny Dimes has to work with now in Indy. He has more weapons than he ever had with the G-Men. Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, AD Mitchell, Josh Downs, Tyler Warren, and Jonathan Stewart are one heck of a group.
But is Jones really the guy who can raise the ceiling for this talented group?
All eyes will be on Daniel Jones as he navigates his first career start not with the Giants. Big Blue Nation will be chiming in to see how the career 24-44-1 starter looks with a horseshoe on his helmet. If Jones lights it up like Heckman believes he can, you can guarantee Giants fans will have their feels.