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The other tune surrounding Daniel Jones after the Giants QB silenced the noise

The other tune surrounding Daniel Jones after the Giants QB silenced the noise

For most of this season, dating back to training camp, the outside world has been telling Daniel Jones what he tilt Do.

When the Giants lost their first two games – at home to the Vikings and at Washington – the questions began:

  • When will the Giants ever win their first game of the season?
  • How long before Giants head coach Brian Daboll replaces Jones with No. 2 Drew Lock?
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones speaks to the media on September 24, 2024. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

The road to impending doom for Jones and the Giants would continue in Cleveland against a Browns team with a ferocious defense. How should Jones succeed against this defense?

Then what about Thursday night's home game against Dallas, which has won 13 of the last 14 meetings between the two teams dating back to 2017 – including the last six?

After these two games there were seemingly unfavorable duels against the Seahawks (3:0), Eagles (2:1) and Steelers (3:0).

So the question heading into Sunday's Cleveland game was: When will the Giants win a game?

Doomsday forecasters predicted they could potentially rise to 0-8.

Then Jones completed 24 of 34 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers in the tough 21-15 win.

And now the game against Dallas seems eminently winnable considering the mess the Cowboys are in, having scored 72 points in their last two games (both losses).

Suddenly, the complexion of the Giants' season – and Jones's – has changed dramatically after we saw how good they can be.

“We don’t like losing to anyone, especially in a division game,” Jones said Wednesday when asked about Dallas’ dominance in the series. “We understand what this game means.”

Jones has completed 65 percent of his passes in the last two games, averaged 235 yards, thrown four touchdowns and didn't commit a turnover.

If there's anyone in the Giants' locker room who has taken the brunt of the outside criticism, it's Jones.

You wouldn't be able to tell from the stoic way he deals with the outside noise.

Deshaun Watson and Daniel Jones hug after the Giants' Week 3 road win over the Browns. Getty Images

“DJ is very confident; “He’s very opinionated,” left tackle Andrew Thomas said. “Despite a lot of adversity and a lot of criticism, he continues to come to work every day and doesn’t let it affect him. We have trust in him. “He showed what we can do.”

Safety Jason Pinnock said his respect for the way Jones handled outside criticism was “very high.”

“He doesn’t let anyone know if he’s affected by it, so we don’t know,” Pinnock said. “That’s what leaders do. “Never show it when you’re hurt.”

Daboll praised Jones' mental toughness amid the firestorm of criticism and flood of disbelief, saying, “His focus is always where he needs to be. …

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones speaks to the media on September 24th. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

“When he walks in the building, he's the same guy every day, whether it's a bad practice, a good practice, a bad game, a good game. “I think that’s important, being able to play quarterback here.”

Daboll talked about how Jones is “focused on what he needs to do to get better from Week 1 to Week 2, Week 2 to Week 3,” adding, “We’re watching tape and working out , be it technique or eyes or fundamentals or route concepts or play calls. We have good communication about it and that's important and that's really all we're focused on.

“We don't focus on any other things that really don't concern him other than what we do in our meeting time (and) in practice, our communication, communication with the receivers, defense with the offensive line.”

What about the constant criticism from those who focus on the “Hard Knocks” episode where the team tried to sign a new franchise quarterback?

Daniel Jones throws a pass during the first half of the Giants' Week 3 win against the AP

What about those who believe Jones' days as the Giants' starter are numbered?

How difficult is it for Jones to deal with this?

“Everyone probably deals with it a little differently, but we don’t really talk about it much,” Daboll said. “What I like about Daniel is that he is ready to work every day and focuses on what is important, which is learning from our mistakes and doing good work and communicating what we can do better.”

“He and I – our relationship between play-caller and quarterback – is important and we work on that in practice. “This is what I see every day.”

The narratives in the NFL are constantly in flux and change from week to week. Temperatures are measured almost hourly.

Jones is no longer a dead quarterback and the Giants are no longer a dead team. And fewer outsiders are telling Jones and the Giants what they want tilt Do.

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