The New York Giants were never simply trying to make the playoffs; they were trying to push beyond the first round and find themselves in a Super Bowl. Quarterback Daniel Jones has been at the forefront of their efforts this season, and while it is every football player’s dream to step on the field during the Super Bowl, very few achieve that quest.
Under the leadership and tutelage of Brian Daboll, Jones has taken a significant step forward in his growth and development. He’s put together career highs in passing and rushing yards, setting a career low in interceptions and fumbles. His pocket presence has increased substantially, and he put himself in a position to earn a lofty new contract that justifies being coined as the team’s franchise passer.
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The New York Giants are committed to Daniel Jones for good reason:
However, part of the reason the Giants are so committed to Jones is his unwavering work ethic. Jones is the first person to show up on any given day and the last person to leave, which star running back Saquon Barkley attested to several weeks ago. Jones lead by example, a similar strategy to former quarterback Eli Manning, who won two Super Bowls with the Giants over a decade ago.
Jones is trying to walk in line with Manning, following his incredible tenure with Big Blue and Hall of Fame-caliber career. Jones has found himself competing in elimination rounds for the first time in four years, an exciting development that works against the narrative of a full-scale rebuild. It seems as if general manager Joe Schoen is simply re-tooling and preparing for a bright future, retaining several impact players on the roster. As the Buffalo Bills routinely display, retaining your own and maintaining a strong culture is at the forefront of success, a strategy that Schoen has brought over to the Giants down south.
“We’re definitely not satisfied just to make the playoffs. That’s not how we see it as a group,” Jones said. “We were confident dating back to training camp and knew what we were able to accomplish. We are by no means satisfied to be in the playoffs. We expect to play well and to win and that is our expectation every week. That hasn’t changed.”
Per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.
The Giants have battled to reach this point in the season when every team has a fresh slate and an opportunity to make an unlikely run. There is no unbeatable team this year, and the Minnesota Vikings are certainly one of the more overrated squads in the post-season.
Despite having 13 wins, they have a -3 point differential, indicating that they won the majority of their games by one possession and have been blown out on a few occasions, creating lopsided margins.
The Giants are expecting to get back a few key defensive pieces and have been developing chemistry at an expedited pace on offense. With things seemingly coming together at the right moment, the Giants have as good a chance as anybody to push deep into the post-season and make some unexpected noise.