The New York Giants had a chance to be one of three 3-0 teams in the NFL, but the curse of prime time once again took hold of quarterback Daniel Jones. The Giants fell to the Dallas Cowboys at home, 23-16.
The Giants have been the laughing stock of the NFL for the past five seasons, with one of the worst records in the league during that span.
New York has been a prime-time comedy act, going 0-11 in prime-time games since 2019, with their last prime-time win coming in week 10 of the 2018 season against the San Francisco 49ers. The Giants are 0-16 in games starting at 4:25 p.m. ET for later since 2019, and their last win was that 49ers game, too. New York is 1-20 in games at 4:25 pm ET or later the past four seasons.
At the center of the Giants’ failure to win in prime-time games is Jones, who is 0-9 in such contests.
How bad has Jones been in primetime games since he entered the league in 2019? The numbers have been less than ideal.
Daniel Jones in primetime — Passing
|
Week 6, 2019 |
in Patriots (TNF) |
15 of 31 (48.4%) |
161 |
1 |
3 |
35.2 |
Loss 35-14 |
|
Week 9, 2019 |
Against Cowboys (MNF) |
26 of 41 (63.4%) |
210 |
1 |
1 |
74.2 |
Loss 37-18 |
|
Week 1, 2020 |
vs. Steelers (MNF) |
26 of 41 (63.4%) |
279 |
two |
two |
79.2 |
Loss 26-16 |
|
Week 7, 2020 |
in Eagles (TNF) |
20 of 30 (66.7%) |
187 |
two |
1 |
91.9 |
Loss 22-21 |
| Week 8, 2020 | against Buccaneers (MNF) | 25 of 41 (61.0%) | 256 | two | two | 74.8 | Loss 25-23 |
|
Week 2, 2021 |
in Washington (TNF) |
22 of 32 (68.8%) |
249 |
1 |
0 |
102.2 |
Loss 30-29 |
|
Week 8, 2021 |
against bosses (MNF) |
22 of 32 (68.8%) |
222 |
two |
1 |
96.1 |
Loss 20-17 |
|
Week 11, 2021 |
in Buccaneers (MNF) |
23 of 38 (60.5%) |
167 |
1 |
two |
57.7 |
Loss 30-10 |
| Week 3, 2022 | Against Cowboys (MNF) | 20 of 37 (54.1%) | 196 | 0 | 1 | 57.9 | Loss 23-16 |
Heading into the game against the Cowboys, the numbers weren’t good for Jones in his previous eight prime-time starts, completing 179 of 286 passes (62.6%) for 1,731 yards with 12 touchdowns to 12 interceptions for a 76.0 rating.
Including Monday night’s game, Jones has never thrown for three touchdowns in a prime-time event, and he only had one game in which he didn’t throw an interception. Jones has never thrown for 300 yards in a prime-time game. The Giants have scored fewer than 20 points in six of those nine games. Four of those losses have been by a field goal or less.
Jones has only two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in one-touchdown prime-time games, with a failed two-point conversion to tie the 2020 game against Tampa Bay and a lost fumble in the final series against Philadelphia later that day. year.
The Giants quarterback just hasn’t done it through the air. How about on the ground?
Daniel Jones in prime time — Running
|
Play |
Adversary |
carries |
yards |
SD |
Fumbles (lost) |
Result |
|
Week 6, 2019 |
in Patriots (TNF) |
two |
8 |
0 |
0 (0) |
Loss 35-14 |
|
Week 9, 2019 |
Against Cowboys (MNF) |
6 |
54 |
0 |
2 (2) |
Loss 37-18 |
|
Week 1, 2020 |
vs. Steelers (MNF) |
4 |
22 |
0 |
0 (0) |
Loss 26-16 |
|
Week 7, 2020 |
in Eagles (TNF) |
4 |
92 |
0 |
eleven) |
Loss 22-21 |
| Week 8, 2020 | against Buccaneers (MNF) | 3 | twenty | 0 | 0 (0) | Loss 25-23 |
|
Week 2, 2021 |
in Washington (TNF) |
9 |
95 |
1 |
0 (0) |
Loss 30-29 |
|
Week 8, 2021 |
against bosses (MNF) |
5 |
12 |
0 |
1 (0) |
Loss 20-17 |
|
Week 11, 2021 |
in Buccaneers (MNF) |
3 |
10 |
0 |
0 (0) |
Loss 30-10 |
| Week 3, 2022 | Against Cowboys (MNF) | 9 | 79 | 0 | 0 (0) | Loss 23-16 |
Jones has been impressive carrying the ball in prime-time games, carrying 45 for 392 yards and a touchdown, averaging 8.71 yards per carry and 43.6 yards per game in nine games (including Monday’s matchup). He has four fumbles and lost three in prime-time games.
On Monday, he had another decent running game, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the other problems on offense.
Of course, Jones is known for going down on an 80-yard run against Philadelphia that night, with an easy touchdown in sight. NFL next Gen Stats tracked Jones at 21.23 miles per hour on the run before he stumbled and couldn’t score the touchdown.
The Giants scored later on the possession but blew a 21-10 lead with 6:21 left. Jones’ 80-yard run is the longest run by a quarterback since Colin Kaepernick in 2014, but Jones failed to score. That run just magnifies Jones’ fights in prime time.
Verdict
Jones is currently averaging 257.7 yards per game (passing and rushing) with 13 total touchdowns and 16 turnovers (13 interceptions and three fumbles lost) in prime time. The numbers haven’t been great, and as a result, the Giants’ offense has struggled in those prime-time games. Jones completed 62.9% of passes in his career and averaged 218.5 passing yards per game (214.1 in prime time) with 48 touchdowns against 30 interceptions for an 84.9 rating, so his numbers in prime time throwing the ball are significantly worse.
All but one of these games are in the past, as Jones no longer has Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge as coaches, but a coach who plays to his strengths in Brian Daboll. Jones has completed 64.1% of his passes for 560 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in the first three games of 2022. He also has 25 carries for 125 yards (5.0 yards per carry). The Giants are 2-1 due to solid defense, a great Saquon Barkley and the fact that Jones only has three turnovers.
Jones has struggled against the Cowboys in his career, losing five of six games. He will get a chance to avenge Monday night’s loss on Thanksgiving.
