By: Jake Rajala

The (2-1) New York Giants are dueling the (2-1) Chicago Bears at home on Sunday at 1 PM. It would be an understatement to say that the NFL world didn’t expect each NFC team to be sitting at 2-1 after three contests. This will be the first time that Jones and Fields have squared off against one another.

The GMEN are led out by the young signal-caller Daniel Jones, who is unequivocally in a do-or-die 2022 season. The Bears handed the keys to the second-year QB Justin Fields & he’s honestly been having growing pains with some flashes of greatness this season. With that enunciated, I’m going to discuss the pivotal QB spot and project which signal-caller should have the edge entering Week 4.

Justin Fields

The 23-year-old Bears QB Justin Fields had an admirable Week 1 performance against the San Francisco 49ers by throwing two touchdowns to one interception & accumulating an 85.7 passer rating. After Week 1, Fields’s magic sadly wore off. He registered a mere 70 passing yds, 0 TD, 1 int, and a 43.8 passer rating against the Green Bay Packers. Fields continued to climb down the ladder in Week 3 by unveiling 0 TDs, 2 ints and finishing with a 27.7 passer rating.

Fields blatantly doesn’t have the sexiest pieces on offense. His starting WRs are Darnell Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Dante Pettis. Fields does have an underrated TE in Cole Kmet and he finally made his debut against the Houston Texans last week (and he caught two passes for 40 yards).

It’s clear that Fields needs to improve his chemistry & it’s worrisome that there were opportunities for Fields to have a big day with Kmet in their first game together this season.

Daniel Jones

The starting QB for the not-so-little Giants is Daniel Jones, also known as Danny Dimes. Jones mustered out an impressive 81% completion percentage, 188 passing yards, two passing TDs, 1, and a 115.9 passer rating in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. Jones was also crisp in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers with a 64.7 completion percentage, 176 passing yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, and an 87.4 passer rating.

Last Monday Night, Jones met his maker (also known as the Dallas Cowboys) — as he obtained 196 passing yards, 0 TDs, 1 interception, and a 57.9 passer rating. The worst part is that Jones suffered his first loss of the season.

Unfortunately, the Giants QB1 has been teed off on many occasions. He was sacked a whopping five times in Week 1, three times in Week 2, and even five times in Week 3. It’s extra special that Jones has found a way to stay effective — despite the pass rush from opponents that has been on his shoulders.

Verdict:

I don’t expect one of the two complex QBs with the potential to have a very productive performance in Week 4, but I sincerely believe that Jones should have a more successful day than Fields in their battle. Fields has undoubtedly been struggling over the prior two weeks & I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears turn to Trevor Sieman (while they have a competitive record). My prior statement may sound quite unpopular (especially to Bears fans), but Fields needs to properly utilize his play-makers and put more points on the scoreboard.

The post Daniel Jones or Justin Fields: who has the edge? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes 

Introduction

The 2019 draft brings up confusing memories for most Giants fans. The expectation was that the Giants were going to put together one final attempt to win with Eli Manning. The perceived weak QB class made pass rushers like Josh Allen and Brian Burns the top targets in most mock drafts. However, the Giants’ front office shocked the world when they took Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth pick in the draft. 

Jones’ first two years in the NFL have been a series of ups and downs. His rookie year featured extreme volatility. Though he posted 26 total touchdowns, he also gave the ball away 27 times (not good!). With a depleted weapons group in Jones’ sophomore year, he cut back on the turnovers at the expense of the big plays. That said, there are numerous reasons to expect Jones to cement himself as the face of the New York Football Giants.

Tireless Work Ethic

Daniel Jones may be the subject of memes and mockery on the internet, but he does not let that phase me. Between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Jones loaded up on muscle intending to eliminate his fumbling issues. While he coughed up the ball eight times in 2020, that is much better than the fifteen lost fumbles from 2019. 

Multiple Giants have preached about Jones’ commitment to the game. The phrase “First guy in, last guy out” is frequently repeated when those in the know within the Giants’ organization are asked about Jones. Does this work ethic mean that Jones will take a leap and assert himself as a premier quarterback? Of course not. Nonetheless, it is a positive sign for a young quarterback like Daniel Jones.

Year Over Year Improvement

Fumbling is not the only area where Jones has progressed. While Daniel Jones posted better counting statistics during his rookie season, he had a better handle of the position his sophomore year. In the pocket, Jones was less susceptible to pressure, leading to fewer turnovers. This comfort also aided Jones as a passer. Despite a putrid offensive line, Jones managed to rank as NextGenStats’ number one graded deep passer in 2020. 

Daniel Jones also established himself as a force on the ground during his sophomore season. Jones went from 279 rushing yards his rookie year to 423 in 2020 despite playing the final few games on a bum leg. Jones should be expected to take another jump in 2021 with the return of Saquon Barkley too. 

Respectable Supporting Cast

For the first time in Daniel Jones’ short career, he has a dynamic group of weapons around him. Jones’ partner in crime in the backfield, all-pro running back Saquon Barkley, returns from his ACL injury. For better or for worse, most of the 2020 offensive line is coming back. At the wide receiver position, the Giants are as stacked as they have been in nearly a decade. Possession wide receiver Kenny Golladay signed with the Giants in free agency. The Giants also added tight end Kyle Rudolph and gadget wide receiver Kadarius Toney. The Giants now have big-bodied red-zone threats in Golladay and Rudolph. Though Toney is raw as a route runner, he is a solid athlete and phenomenal in the open field. Daniel Jones played with a 1990 Toyota for his first few years, and he has just been handed a Ferrari. 

The Giants also improved their defense via the additions of pass rusher Azeez Ojulari and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson. Jones will have the chance to lead a top offense, and Big Blue’s defense will ensure that the team will be competitive in every game. 

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