After two interceptions Daniel Jones delivered a pair of scoring drives, but you know what the topic will be in New York this week
Before we dive into the heart of today’s topic, we need to lay down a little bit of context.
Readers, we are about to talk about a preseason game in the NFL. A game between the New York Giants and the Houston Texans, a team coming off a surprising AFC South division title and a run to the Divisional Round. We are a few weeks removed from the games counting in the win-loss column, and the statistics counting for real.
That being said … Daniel Jones gave Giants fans a few reasons to worry with just two plays against the Texans on Saturday.
Jones, who did not play in New York’s preseason opener against the Detroit Lions and is returning from a knee injury suffered a season ago, threw two interceptions in the early going against Houston.
The first was a classic example of “what not to do” at the quarterback position:
With the Giants facing a 2nd-and-8 deep in their own territory Jones dropped to throw off a quick run fake. Quickly, however, Jones was under pressure in his end zone. Looking to avoid a sack for a safety the quarterback forced a throw toward rookie tight end Theo Johnson.
Houston safety Jalen Pitre was waiting, and all too willing to not just pull in the interception, but skip into the end zone with the pick-six.
When your quarterback looks like this in the end zone it is usually not a good sign:
Jones may have been trying to throw this away to avoid a safety, and bear in mind an intentional grounding penalty would also result in two points for the Texans. Therefore, the quarterback knows he has to get this in the direction of Johnson, but if he was indeed trying to throw this away, he had to put it in a better spot.
Jones’ second interception came on the very next possession. After driving the Giants into Houston territory, the New York passer tried to connect with Jalin Hyatt on a vertical route along the right sideline.
Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. had another idea:
Stingley runs step-for-step with Hyatt on the route, and with Jones trying to put this throw on more of a line, rather than using some touch to drop it over the defender, Stingley snares the interception and ends the Giants’ scoring threat.
To be fair to Jones, he and the Giants offense continued to battle. Jones connected with Darius Slayton on this deep shot on New York’s next possession, setting the Giants up with 1st-and-goal at the Houston one-yard line:
This is an absolutely perfect throw from Jones, putting this ball in a spot where Slayton — who runs a great route and gives himself room along the sideline to track this down — can get to it. New York punched it in for a touchdown two plays later on a run from Devin Singletary, and the game was suddenly tied at 7-7.
Jones and the Giants offense added a field goal before the half, thanks in large part to this tremendous adjustment from rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, on a throw from the New York passer:
Jones gave way to backup Tommy DeVito at halftime, with the score 14-10 in favor of the Texans. He finished his day of work having completed 11-of-18 passes for 138 yards and those two turnovers. Shaking off the two early interceptions with a pair of scoring drives is certainly a strong response to those early mistakes.
But you can be sure what the main talking point this week will be in the Big Apple.
