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There is just one week left in the 2019 regular season, which represents one final opportunity for New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones to prove his many detractors wrong.
Through 16 weeks, he’s done a relatively good job of exactly that. And after a historic performance against the Washington Redskins just a week ago, Jones has seen a seven-spot rise to No. 19 overall in the NFL Network QB Power Index.
2019 stats: 12 games | 62.1 pct | 2,726 pass yds | 6.6 ypa | 23 pass TD | 11 INT | 253 rush yds | 2 rush TD | 10 fumbles lost
Filice: The No. 6 overall pick’s debut season has seesawed between exhilarating (SEE: numerous high-level throws, useful athleticism) and exasperating (horrendous ball security). Basically, it’s the kind of mixed-bag campaign you’d expect out of a rookie quarterback transitioning from Duke Blue to Big Blue. After missing two games with an ankle injury, though, Jones returned to action this past Sunday and served up his most impressive NFL performance to date. The numbers sparkle — 352 passing yards, 5 TD, 0 INT, 132.1 passer rating — but it’s the way in which Jones accumulated those numbers that really inspires confidence in a controversial draft pick initially panned by knee-jerk know-it-alls far and wide. The 22-year-old signal-caller effectively exploited all areas of the field, notably completing 3 of 4 deep attempts (20-plus yards, per Pro Football Focus) for 88 yards and two touchdowns. He really spread the wealth across his weaponry, too, completing four-plus throws to five different pass catchers, with four of them hitting paydirt. Crunch-time production? Double-check! In the two-minute drill at the end of the first half, Jones deftly executed a nine-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. Then, in the opening possession of overtime, Jones marched the Giants 66 yards over 11 plays, ending the game with his second touchdown pass of the day to fellow rookie Kaden Smith. Now, it should be noted that all of this came against a dire, depleted Redskins secondary. Also, Jones missed some easy throws and, once again, put the ball on the turf while trying to do too much. (Fortunately, Giants guard Kevin Zeitler was Johnny-on-the-spot with the recovery.) But enough picking of nits — this was an irrefutably incandescent outing from a first-year passer.
Although Jones justifiably checks in ahead of other quarterbacks such as Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Dwayne Haskins, he curiously takes a backseat to the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jared Goff and Kyler Murray.
If Jones has a big game in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles, we’ll see if he can leap-frog some of those less talented quarterbacks.
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