Daniel Jones just showed the Giants what they’re missing, and it wasn’t pretty for Big Blue fans.
The Colts raised eyebrows across the NFL when they named Daniel Jones their Week 1 starter. Most fans and analysts couldn’t make sense of it. Sure, Anthony Richardson hasn’t proven himself at the NFL level yet, but the 23-year-old has that raw talent that makes scouts drool. Meanwhile, Jones was coming off a disastrous run with the Giants that ended with him taking practice squad reps on defense. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
It seemed like Indy was making a head-scratching move – benching their potential franchise QB for a guy who’s thrown more picks than TDs over the last two seasons. The idea that Jones could somehow be a “stabilizing force” for the offense? C’mon.
Then Sunday happened.
Jones absolutely balled out in his Colts debut, completing 21 of 28 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown in a dominant 33-8 victory over Miami. He didn’t turn the ball over once. The former Giant also showed off his mobility, rushing seven times for 26 yards and punching in two scores on the ground.
Meanwhile, in New York, Russell Wilson’s Giants debut was… well, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. Russ looked completely lost against a Washington defense that isn’t exactly the ’85 Bears. After failing in Denver and then Pittsburgh, it feels like Wilson’s stint in the Big Apple might be even shorter than expected.
Don’t crown Jones just yet
Jones deserves credit for his performance on Sunday – he looked comfortable, confident, and in complete control of Shane Steichen’s offense. The Colts moved the ball at will, executing with precision and making it look easy against the Dolphins.
But here’s the thing – are we sure this wasn’t more about Miami than Jones? The Dolphins have been a complete disaster this offseason. Training camp reports were abysmal. Tyreek Hill made trade demands then walked them back unconvincingly. Mike McDaniel looks like he’s losing his grip on the locker room. And Tua Tagovailoa’s regression is concerning.
Miami’s defense was basically a welcome mat on Sunday. They couldn’t stop anything. And their supposedly high-powered offense couldn’t move the ball against a Colts defense that most analysts ranked in the bottom third of the league. This feels like the perfect storm for Jones – a Week 1 aberration that might come crashing back to earth when he faces a competent defense.
Giants fans can’t be feeling great right now
If you’re a Giants fan, watching Jones thrive while Wilson struggled had to be painful. There’s talent on this New York roster, but the defense looked overmatched against Washington’s offense (though Jayden Daniels is the real deal). Meanwhile, Wilson’s glory days in Seattle feel like ancient history at this point.
Whatever the Giants thought they were getting with Wilson, it’s not materializing. There’s a reason he’s been shown the door in Denver and Pittsburgh in consecutive years. The decline is real – and it’s steep.
Does it really matter if Jones is better than Wilson at this point? Jones clearly wasn’t good enough to overcome the dysfunction in New York. The problem is, Wilson isn’t either. The Giants made the right call moving on from Jones – they just made the wrong call on his replacement.
Jaxson Dart is sitting right there on the bench. Whatever you think of him as a prospect, he was the best QB in the SEC last year – that counts for something. He also showed serious flashes during preseason. He can make throws and create with his legs that Wilson can only dream about at this stage of his career.
The Giants need to rip off the band-aid quickly. Give Dart the keys now and see what you’ve got. There’s absolutely no reason to waste time with Wilson when your rookie is ready for his shot.