In the aftermath of a demoralizing 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants and their quarterback, Daniel Jones, found themselves at the heart of fan ire. The chorus of boos that echoed through MetLife Stadium highlighted the growing frustration among the fanbase as the Giants continued their spiraling performance on the field.
Jones' performance against the Vikings painted a bleak picture. Completing 22 out of 42 passes for a mere 186 yards, Jones also threw two critical interceptions. His struggles were encapsulated by a pivotal moment in the third quarter when he threw a pass to Andrew Van Ginkel, which was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, widening the Vikings' lead to 28-6.
The fan discontent was palpable, with supporters lingering outside the players' entrance post-game, eager to express their dissatisfaction directly to Jones. It's a sentiment that has been brewing over Jones' recent performances, as he holds a dismal 1-7 record in his last eight starts.
The statistics further underscore the Giants' difficulties. Over these last eight games, Jones has managed to throw only two passing touchdowns. The team, as a whole, has been outscored by a daunting 168 points, with an aggregate scoreline of 249-81. In the latest contest, Jones' rating plummeted to 44.3, with an average of just 4.4 yards per attempt. The lack of protection also played a crucial role; Jones was sacked five times and hit a total of 12 times during the game.
This performance isn't an isolated incident. Since the start of last season, Jones has had three games where he failed to throw a passing touchdown while throwing two interceptions. However, it’s worth noting that Jones’ best recent performance came during a 2022 wild-card win at the Vikings, where he threw two touchdown passes, although such moments have been few and far between.
Amidst this turmoil, Giants' head coach Brian Daboll's stance remains steady. When asked about the possibility of a quarterback change, Daboll responded, "We're going to watch everything. [A quarterback change] that's not in my mind." This quote highlights Daboll's current commitment to Jones despite the overwhelming evidence of the team's recent struggles.
The continued challenges for the Giants and Jones signal a critical juncture for the team. The fans' vocal dissatisfaction underscores the urgency for improvement. With each disappointing loss amplifying the scrutiny on Jones, both he and the Giants’ management must reassess their strategies moving forward to halt the decline and regain competitive footing in the league.