The Dallas Cowboys overcame a short week of preparation and a hostile environment at MetLife Stadium on Thursday night, securing a crucial victory over the New York Giants. The loss dropped the Giants to 1-3 on the season, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy. With the team struggling, much of the blame is being directed at quarterback Daniel Jones, whose inconsistent performance is drawing increasing scrutiny.
Jones completed 29 of 40 passes for 281 yards and threw one interception during the loss, but it wasn’t enough to keep his team competitive. His up-and-down play has led many, including ESPN analyst Marcus Spears, to question whether the Giants should continue to rely on the former Duke standout.
Spears pointed to a key moment in the game where Jones had a free shot at the end zone due to an offside penalty. Instead of capitalizing with a deep pass, Jones underthrew his target, missing a critical opportunity to shift momentum in the Giants’ favor.
“The fact that you underthrow this guy? It’s even more glaring as we wake up this morning, because that could have been the difference in the game,” Spears said on Friday’s episode of Get Up.
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Spears criticized Jones for his ongoing inconsistency, calling it a major issue for the Giants. “Daniel Jones has these moments of inconsistency… and that’s the worst thing you can say about a quarterback. I need you to either be bad so we can make a decision, or I need you to be good so we know where we are. Daniel Jones is neither,” Spears explained.
According to Spears, Jones’ failure to string together reliable performances makes it difficult for the Giants to plan for the future. “I don’t know if we can go further with this guy based on what we’re trying to do offensively,” he added, suggesting the team may need to explore other options at quarterback.
However, moving on from Jones isn’t a straightforward decision. The Giants are financially tied to their quarterback after signing him to a four-year, $160 million deal following his breakout 2022 season. Jones was impressive last year, earning the lucrative contract before a season-ending injury cut his year short.
Unfortunately for the Giants, Jones has struggled to regain that form in 2024, leading to questions about whether he’s the right fit for the team’s long-term plans.
Benching Jones would be a difficult move for the Giants, not only from a financial perspective but also in terms of team strategy. With his hefty contract in place, the team is invested in getting value out of Jones, and replacing him would force the Giants to admit that their significant offseason commitment was a mistake.
For now, head coach Brian Daboll appears to be sticking with Jones as the starter, but if the Giants continue to falter, the pressure to make a change may become overwhelming.
With the season slipping away and the playoffs looking increasingly unlikely, the team may have to rethink their direction at quarterback sooner rather than later.
As it stands, Jones’ future with the Giants is in question, and his performance over the coming weeks could determine whether he remains the face of the franchise or finds himself on the bench.
