Daniel Jones has been at a Week 3 crossroads before.
As the New York Giants quarterback prepares to take on the Cleveland Browns this week, it’s hard not to notice some parallels to last year at this time.
In 2023, after an abysmal season-opening 40-0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Jones led an inspired effort against the Arizona Cardinals to complete the Giants’ biggest comeback victory since 1949. In the second half, Jones threw 17-of-21 passes for 259 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to erase a 21-point deficit and win 31-28. He added 58 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
But in Week 3, all positive vibes generated by that win disappeared. Jones and the Giants were trounced by San Francisco 30-12 on a national stage. Jones threw for 137 yards in the loss and was subsequently bashed by 49ers defenders, with one calling Jones’ new $160 million contract a “travesty.”
Now, fast-forward to this season. Jones looked lost in the Giants’ disheartening Week 1 defeat only to bounce back with a solid start (16-of-28 for two touchdowns and no interceptions to go along with carries for 32 yards) in a Week 2 loss against Washington. There’s a decent chance that if rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers doesn’t drop that fourth-down pass — or if the Giants had a healthy kicker — Jones’ numbers look even better and the Giants beat the Commanders.
Either way, entering Week 3, Jones needs to harness that momentum he created in Week 2 and let it propel him forward. He failed to do that last year. Instead, the 49ers game sent him and the Giants into a spiral. The Giants lost his next two starts, as he failed to throw a touchdown pass, fumbled twice and was sacked 16 times behind a wretched offensive line before suffering a neck injury that caused him to miss three games. He returned in Week 9 only to take two sacks and suffering a season-ending ACL injury.
Any glimmer of hope from the Arizona game faded fast after that 49ers defeat.
Here’s the recording from this morning. Buckle up for a 10-minute rant about the kicker mismanagement near the start: https://t.co/vFDtap36KT https://t.co/c5Jn4tv6LZ
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) September 18, 2024
Asked on Wednesday about the parallels between this year and last, Jones wasn’t too sure.
“You want to improve every week, but I think particularly Week 1 to Week 2, you’re looking to make some big improvements,” Jones said. “I think every year is different. Last year we won, but had some big injuries and obviously didn’t play the following week. So, every season is different, and we got to approach it that way. But we’re confident we’ve made improvements, and we’ll continue to do that.”
The details aren’t the same and, to Jones’ point, each season is different. But the fact remains: Jones must succeed where he failed last year and build on his solid Week 2 performance. And like last season against San Francisco, it will be a big challenge against an excellent Browns defense that ranked second in defensive DVOA last year and just limited the Jacksonville Jaguars to 13 points in Week 2.
Not that Jones likes to talk about it, but solid play against Cleveland also will help keep questions about his job security, which surfaced after his shaky Week 1 performance, at bay for another week.
“I thought (Jones) improved,” coach Brian Daboll said of Jones’ performance from Week 1 to Week 2. “Continue to try to do that. Made good decisions. Threw the ball where he needed to throw the ball.”
That was often to Nabers, who fielded 18 of Jones’ 28 passes, catching 10 of them for 127 yards and a touchdown. Continuing to pepper Nabers feels like an ingredient to sustained success. Another is for Jones to keep growing more comfortable in the pocket. After a Week 1 performance in which he looked consistently rattled, Jones looked far more at ease in a Week 2 game in which he took just one sack and committed no turnovers.
“I do think I did a better job,” Jones said of being decisive and trusting himself in Week 2. “Still some areas to improve on and work on, but overall, I thought I did better.”
Daniel Jones: “I think everyone realizes our record. But no one is discouraged.”
“Nobody’s happy with where we are but we understand what we need to do to turn it around and catch some momentum. … No one’s freaking out.” #giants pic.twitter.com/A3c9znPoOg
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) September 18, 2024
Keeping his composure against an excellent Browns defense led by All-Pro Myles Garrett — even if he’s dealing with a foot injury — will be a big challenge. In Cleveland’s Week 2 win, the Browns tallied four sacks, with the Jags surrendering 15 pressures.
Bear in mind, even if Jones passes the test in Cleveland, it doesn’t get easier. Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys return to town on a short week for a Thursday Night Football matchup. Jones is 1-12 in primetime matchups.
But Jones is confident in himself and his team this week and beyond despite the 0-2 start to the season.
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“We have a high standard for ourselves and what we can be, what this team can be. We’re confident in getting things going and we’re working hard to do that. Nobody’s happy with where we are, from a record standpoint, but we understand what we need to do to turn it around and catch some momentum. No one’s freaking out.”
(Photo: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
