Giants’ Daniel Jones failed to build on momentum in 2023. He can’t let that happen this year

Daniel Jones was at Week 3 crossroads before.

As the New York Giants quarterback prepares to face the Cleveland Browns this week, it’s hard not to notice some parallels to last year at this point.

In 2023, after a terrible season-opening 40-0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Jones led an inspired effort against the Arizona Cardinals to complete the Giants’ biggest comeback victory since 1949. In the second half, Jones shot 17-of-21. passing for 259 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to erase a 21-point deficit and win 31-28. He added 58 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

But in Week 3, all the positive vibes generated by that win disappeared. Jones and the Giants were beaten by San Francisco 30-12 on a national stage. Jones threw for 137 yards in the loss and was later slammed by 49ers defenders, with one calling Jones’ new $160 million contract “talk.”

Now, fast forward to this season. Jones looked lost in the disappointing Week 1 loss to the Giants only to rebound with a solid start (16-of-28 for two touchdowns and no interceptions to go along with a carry for 32 yards) in a Week 2 loss against Washington. There’s a decent chance that if rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers doesn’t drop that fourth-down pass — or if the Giants had a healthy kicker — Jones’ numbers look even better and the Giants beat the Commanders.

Either way, going into Week 3, Jones needs to take advantage of that momentum he created in Week 2 and let it propel him forward. He failed to do so last year. Instead, the 49ers game sent him and the Giants into a spiral. The Giants lost his next two starts as he didn’t throw a touchdown pass, fumbled twice and was sacked 16 times behind a miserable offensive line before suffering a neck injury that caused him to miss three games. He returned in Week 9 only to take two sacks and suffer a season-ending ACL injury.

Any semblance of hope from the Arizona game faded quickly after that 49ers loss.

Asked Wednesday about the parallels between this year and last, Jones wasn’t too sure.

“You want to improve every week, but I think especially Week 1 through Week 2, you’re looking to make some big improvements,” Jones said. “I think every year is different. Last year we won, but had some big injuries and obviously didn’t play the following week. So, every season is different, and we have to approach it that way. But we are confident that we have made improvements, and we will continue to do so.”

The details aren’t the same and, to Jones’ point, every season is different. But the fact remains: Jones needs to succeed where he failed last year and build on his solid Week 2 performance. And like last season against San Francisco, it will be a big challenge against an excellent Browns defense that ranked second in defensive DVOA last year and just limited the Jacksonville Jaguars to 13 points in Week 2.

Not that Jones likes to talk about it, but a solid game against Cleveland will also help keep questions about his job security that have come up after his shaky Week 1 performance at bay for another week.

“I thought (Jones) got better,” coach Brian Daboll said of Jones’ performance from Week 1 to Week 2. “Just keep trying to do that. Made good decisions. Throwed the ball where he had to throw the ball.”

That was often to Nabers, who launched 18 of Jones’ 28 passes, catching 10 of them for 127 yards and a touchdown. Continuing to pepper Nabers feels like an ingredient for continued success. Another is for Jones to continue to grow more comfortable in the pocket. After a Week 1 performance in which he looked constantly rattled, Jones looked much calmer in a Week 2 game in which he took just one sack and committed no turnovers.

“I do think I did a better job,” Jones said of being decisive and confident in Week 2. “Still some areas to improve and work on, but overall, I thought I did better.”

Keeping his cool against an excellent Browns defense led by All-Pro Myles Garrett — even if he’s dealing with a foot injury — will be a big challenge. In the Week 2 victory of Cleveland, the Browns counted four sacks, with the Jags surrendering 15 pressures.

Remember, even if Jones passes the test in Cleveland, it doesn’t get any easier. Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys return to town on a short week for a Thursday Night Football game. Jones is 1-12 in prime-time matchups.

But Jones is confident in himself and his team this week and beyond despite the 0-2 start to the season.

“We have a high standard for ourselves and what we can be, what this team can be. We’re confident that things are going our way and we’re working hard to do that. Nobody’s happy with where we’re at, from a record standpoint, but we understand what we have to do to turn it around and get some momentum. No one is scared.”

(Photo: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)