Daniel Jones lowers shoulder, runs toward storm to inspire Giants

Daniel Jones was angry when he boarded the Giants’ 2,424-mile charter flight to Seattle. He played angrily in a 29-20 win over the Seahawks, and he remained angry afterward.

“A lot was made of not being able to run the ball as well last week,” Jones said, courtesy of Pat Leonard from the Daily News. “I think we understand who we are and what we can be. You try not to get too distracted by some of the stuff that comes up after one game. We have a lot of confidence in our run game.”

That confidence was impressive, considering New York (2-3) was without leading rusher Devin Singletary (groin) and leading receiver Malik Nabers (concussion). But Jones was an efficient 23 of 34 for 257 yards and two touchdowns, and inspired high-level efforts from rookie running back Tyrone Tracy (18 carries, 129 yards) and veteran receiver Darius Slayton (eight catches, 122 yards), to put the Giants in a position to win.

They won with special teams. With Jason Myers attempting a 47-yard game-tying field goal with 1:05 left in the game, linebacker Isaiah Simmons used his 39-inch vertical jump to power through the line and block the kick. Bryce Ford-Wheaton scooped and scored on a 60-yard touchdown return.

But long before that decisive play, Jones stormed out of the halftime locker room in a 10-10 game and placed the Giants firmly in control for most of the second half. He guided New York on three scoring drives to take a 23-13 fourth-quarter lead, including a 30-yard touchdown pass to Slayton. Jones and Slayton set up that score with a 41-yard strike to begin the drive, the longest pass play of the Giants’ season.

And one play before that, rookie safety Tyler Nubin gave New York possession by recovering a DK Metcalf fumble at the Giants’ 23-yard line. The Giants made timely defensive stops all afternoon against the Seahawks’ sneaky offense. Seattle (3-2) was just 3-for-11 on third downs, 0-for-2 on fourth downs and didn’t score an offensive touchdown until Geno Smith connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba to make it 23-20 just before the two-minute warning.

It was enough to convince WFAN host Chris McMonigle that Jones and the Giants will continue to surprise many this season, even if they don’t surprise themselves.

“Some of my core beliefs on Daniel Jones aren’t going to change off of one week,” McMonigle said. “They won’t even change off of the last three weeks. But he’s been really good, despite missing some throws last week. Not only did he make all the throws and spread the football around but, man, if he isn’t a tough son of a gun who puts his shoulder down.”

New York’s defense now shoulders the burden of Joe Burrow and the Bengals (1-4), who registered 442 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-38 overtime loss to Baltimore on Sunday. But the Giants could return Nabers, who has a historic to-do list, and complement Slayton in their passing game. Cincinnati comes to MetLife Stadium for a Sunday Night Football matchup (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).