It’s hard to pinpoint which of Daniel Jones’ many mistakes in the first half of the Giants’ humiliating 20-17 overtime loss to the Panthers in Munich was most deserving of his permanent benching.
Was it the horrendous overthrow to Malik Nabers on third-and-eight during the Giants’ opening drive, with a clean pocket and an open target? Or was it his decision to eat a sack on a botched flea-flicker attempt, instead of at least attempting a deep pass to wide-open receivers Wan’Dale Robinson or Nabers?
If neither of those was enough to justify benching him, perhaps his interception with 1:54 left in the half — tipped by Jadeveon Clowney, whom Jones could have easily faked out with a pump fake — would have done the trick. But despite all of this, head coach Brian Daboll stuck with Jones, and it cost him yet another winnable game.
Jones finished the game with 190 yards, a rushing touchdown, and two interceptions, once again showing both flashes of potential and crippling inconsistency. His performance was highlighted by a 13-play, 96-yard drive in the fourth quarter that ended in a rushing touchdown, and a key drive that set up Graham Gano’s 42-yard field goal to force overtime. But those flashes were overshadowed by boneheaded mistakes, like a crucial interception in the red zone in the fourth quarter when the Giants were threatening to take their first lead of the game.
Now sitting at 2-8, the Giants are the worst team in the league, and their five-game losing streak is only getting worse. What’s perhaps most embarrassing is that the Giants were actually favored going into this game — a rarity for a team that hasn’t been favored since their Week 2 win over the Cardinals. At this point, the season is essentially lost, and changes are inevitable.
While head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen might have received votes of confidence just weeks ago, co-owner John Mara may soon be forced to reconsider his stance if the Giants continue to flounder. But as for Daniel Jones, the time to bench him has long passed.
With his 2,070 passing yards, 8-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and a miserable quarterback rating of 50.5 against the Panthers — one of the league’s bottom defenses — Jones’ performances are simply unacceptable. The longer the Giants stick with him, the more they gamble with their future, particularly with his contract looming. Jones has a $23 million injury guarantee in his deal, meaning if he suffers a significant injury this season, the Giants could end up paying him even more money next year.
The Giants’ front office needs to recognize that this season is beyond saving and take the necessary steps to preserve their financial flexibility moving forward. Protecting Jones for the rest of the year would be the smart move, even if it means giving the reins to someone like Drew Lock, whose performance couldn’t possibly be worse than what we’re seeing from Jones. If Lock isn’t trusted as the backup, the Giants need to reevaluate their quarterback depth and bring in a more proven option.
Let’s face it: the four-year, $160 million contract given to Daniel Jones was a mistake. The Giants’ ownership may never admit it, but the evidence is clear after games like this. It’s time for a change, and it starts with a benching of Jones — permanently.
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