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The pressure has been on for New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones to buck some trends and come through with a signature, critic-silencing moment that would turn the tide in East Rutherford.
On Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jones did just that… But that’s not how it will read in the history books.
Leading 21-16 late in the fourth quarter and facing a crucial third down, Jones uncorked one of the most beautiful throws of his career in the direction of tight end Evan Engram. The ball landed so perfectly you’d think Jones had literally run up and handed it to him.
It was over. The Giants not only had the game won and were positioned to battle for the NFC East crown, they had gotten the monkey off their back and defeated the Eagles. In Philly.
Finally. The signature Daniel Jones moment we’ve all been waiting for and the one he do desperately needed.
It was not meant to be on this day, however. Seemingly in slow motion, the ball bounced off the out-stretched hands of Engram and fell harmlessly to the turf. The signature moment had turned into a nightmare and the Eagles took advantage.
Evan Engram drops a perfect pass from Daniel Jones on 3rd down…
The Eagles get a chance to win 👀
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) October 23, 2020
“Got the look we wanted, man look, won on the inside fade, DJ threw a great ball, just didn’t finish the play. 100%, I got to make that,” Engram told reporters after the game. “I got to be better with mechanics and small things. It sucks. It’s a sucky feeling right now.
“Tt’s frustrating, it’s not a good feeling not making that play and possibly putting the game on ice.”
Jones, of course, refused to place blame on Engram, instead suggesting he somehow had to make a better throw.
He didn’t.
Like Jones, head coach Joe Judge also declined to dress down his tight end following the game and flat-out refused to discuss the drop directly.
“I thought he made a lot of plays to keep us in the game and bring us back when we were down and struggling on offense. He had a lot of production for us tonight,” Judge said of Engram. “We’ll keep on playing with him; he’s a guy that we have to keep involved in our offense and keep giving targets like we did tonight. He’s definitely a guy that helped us.
“I saw an incomplete pass. I have to look at the tape to see if it was something technique wise that we need to correct and clean up.”
An incomplete pass… That is certainly what the box score will say and that’s how history will record the moment, but it’s not how it should have gone. Jones should be celebrated in New York and New Jersey today but instead, it’s back to the drawing board for the Giants and back to the booze closet for fans.
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