Daniel Jones and NY Giants in prime time: Can Big Blue QB find his game under the lights?

EAST RUTHERFORD - Daniel Jones can block out the noise better than most in the NFL.

His ability to sidestep what the masses want to talk about is perhaps his greatest skill as the quarterback of the New York Giants , and that's meant to be a compliment.

Yet even Jones has been unable to ignore how he and the Giants have performed in prime time since he became their starting quarterback five years ago.

One win and 14 losses under the lights and in the national broadcast window with Jones at quarterback, and that includes the playoffs.

You're going to see that 1-14 record plastered all over "Sunday Night Football" this week as the Giants prepare to play host to the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium. The way Jones sees it: there's no escaping the numbers, so embrace the chance to change the narrative for an improving team in the aftermath of a stunning 29-20 victory in Seattle against a legitimate playoff contender in the Seahawks.

"I've heard it, and I understand it's a talking point for people," Jones told NorthJersey.com at his locker Wednesday. "But I'm confident and excited for the opportunity. Should be an awesome atmosphere."

Those who ridicule Jones and his play have every right to do that. He's given them enough to criticize.

That brings us to the prime time knock against Jones. He has won just one start in those games two seasons ago in Landover, Md. against the Commanders.

There needs to be some context to that history lesson, however. The Giants were favorites just once in those games in which Jones is on record as the losing quarterback. They were underdogs by double digits five times.

Safe to say, the deck has been stacked against Jones more times than not. This should not be one of those times, and a win over Joe Burrow and the Bengals would be another significant step toward altering how this team is viewed.

Here's a look at everything that has transpired in prime time with Jones at the helm to this point:

2019 season

Patriots 35, Giants 14 (Thursday, Oct. 10)

Tom Brady and the Patriots were on a mission, having lost the Super Bowl to the Eagles, and the Giants were short-handed 6.5-point underdogs on the road in Foxborough, Mass.

It was Jones' first prime time start and the weather was brutal. He completed 15-of-31 passes for a touchdown and three interceptions. Jon Hilliman was the leading rusher (11 carries for 38 yards) and the receiving group consisted of Golden Tate, rookie Darius Slayton and Cody Latimer, and tight end Rhett Ellison.

Cowboys 37, Giants 18 (Monday, Nov. 4)

A 21-point fourth quarter for Dallas buried Big Blue, who came in as 6.5-point underdogs. Jones finished 26-of-41 passing for 210 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He rushed for 64 yards, but lost two fumbles.

2020 season

Steelers 26, Giants 16 (Monday, Sept. 14)

This was the opener at MetLife Stadium of the COVID season with no fans in the stands. Somehow, the Giants were only 6-point underdogs against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, who dominated up front. Jones finished 26-of-41 for 279 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while being sacked three times.

His interception late in the first half on a potential scoring drive, the play where Jones threw wildly and unnecessarily into the end zone, stands as one of the worst plays of his career.

Eagles 22, Giants 21 (Thursday, Oct. 22)

Jones and the Giants deserved to win this one at Lincoln Financial Field as 5-point underdogs. He completed 20-of-30 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also carried four times for 90 yards.

But Evan Engram dropped a perfect pass from Jones on a third-and-6 with 2:10 left that would have iced the victory. The Eagles rallied, as they always seem to do in Philly, to break Big Blue's heart.

Buccaneers 25, Giants 23 (Monday, Nov. 2)

The Giants came in as 13-point underdogs and while Jones was shaky at times, he put them in position to pull off the upset. He completed 25-of-41 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

With 28 seconds left, despite a Tom Brady rally, Jones threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate to pull within 25-23. Tampa Bay interfered on the conversion attempt, but officials picked up the flag.

2021 season

Washington 30, Giants 29 (Thursday, Sept. 16)

Another game that should be a victory on Jones' prime time ledger.

He completed 22-of-32 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown while adding 95 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The Giants had the victory when Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins missed the first attempt at a game-winning field goal. That was the night Dexter Lawrence was flagged for a personal foul for making contact with the long snapper, and the penalty gave Hopkins another shot, which he cashed in.

Chiefs 20, Giants 17 (Monday, Nov. 1)

Yet another game in which Jones deserved better. The Giants were 10-point underdogs at Arrowhead Stadium and Jones played well opposite Patrick Mahomes. He completed 22-of-32 for 222 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Remember: the Giants had the victory in their hands when Darnay Holmes picked off Mahomes at the Kansas City 34-yard line

Oshane Ximines had jumped offsides, though and the penalty allowed the Chiefs to keep the ball. Mahomes drove them down the field and the Chiefs won the game on a Harrison Butker field goal with 1:12 remaining.

Buccaneers 30, Giants 10 (Monday, Nov. 22)

The Giants were 11-point underdogs at Raymond James Stadium, but this one never seemed competitive even though they trailed by 17-10 at halftime. Jones completed 23-for-38 for 167 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in a woeful offensive showing. Jason Garrett was fired as offensive coordinator the next morning.

2022 season

Cowboys 23, Giants 16 (Monday, Sept. 26)

The only game in prime time that the Giants were favored with Jones as the starting quarterback. Jones was under constant duress and to a man the offense essentially apologized for not supporting him after the game. He completed 20-of-37 passes for 196 yards and an interception, but that turnover came when David Sills slipped on a route as the Giants were rallying.

Giants 20, Commanders 12 (Sunday, Dec. 18)

This game set up the Giants' playoff run last season, and they were underdogs by 4.5 points after tying the Commanders two weeks prior. Jones played a clean game, completing 21-of-32 passes for 160 yards, and Kayvon Thibodeaux did the rest, scoring a touchdown on a sack fumble and denying Washington a touchdown late with a tremendous stop at the pylon.

Eagles 38, Giants 7 (Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, NFC divisional playoffs)

The Giants were completely outplayed and outclassed by the eventual NFC representative in the Super Bowl in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Lincoln Financial Field house of horrors trend continued for Jones and Big Blue.

2023 season

Cowboys 40, Giants 0 (Sunday, Sept. 10)

Dallas was favored by a field goal and absolutely dominated the Giants in humiliating fashion, and in every facet. How much do you put that game on Jones, given the way the offensive line performed? Was just flat out brutal.

49ers 30, Giants 12 (Thursday, Sept. 21)

The Giants entered as 10-point underdogs, and were without Saquon Barkley, starting offensive linemen Andrew Thomas and Ben Bredeson, and Azeez Ojulari on the defensive side of the ball. Jones missed some chances, and the Giants did not call designed runs to take advantage of Jones' legs, although the quickness of the San Francisco linebackers was apparent from the outside. An overall disappointment after which a lot of the blame nationally fell on Jones' shoulders, which was somewhat shortsighted given the overall talent disparity and expectations.

Seahawks 24, Giants 3 (Monday, Oct. 2)

Jones threw a Pick 6 at the goal line, allowing Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon to intercept the pass and race 97 yards the other way for a touchdown. Seattle sacked Jones 11 times and made Jones look like a shell of the quarterback who went out and had a career year in 2022.

It was hard to watch the regression overall, and Jones only played parts of two more games before tearing his ACL.

2024 season

Cowboys 20, Giants 15 (Thursday, Oct. 3)

Jones missed two deep shots to Darius Slayton that would have changed the game, but the Giants could not run the football and the defense just could not reverse their fortune against Dak Prescott.

"Very frustrating. Very frustrating," Jones said. "We’re expected to score touchdowns and put points on the board. And in a game that I felt like we were able to do a lot and move the ball well and execute a lot of stuff well, we didn’t execute the red zone stuff and didn’t punch it in so that’s frustrating."

Another chance for prime time redemption awaits Jones and the Giants come Sunday night.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Daniel Jones and NY Giants in prime time: Can Big Blue QB find his game under the lights?