By Andrew Rosario
TAMPA, FL.- Daniel Jones, the number 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft, showed signs in the pre-season that he could be the successor to Eli Manning. Jones played against second tier defenses, putting up positive numbers. After Manning and the offense struggled losing to Dallas and Buffalo, Manning got benched and the Jones era began. He did not disappoint.
The only consistent thing about the Giants in their first two games was their inability to stop the opposing offense and failure to get in the end zone. The Bucs would draw first blood as QB Jamies Winston took them 75 yards in 10 plays as he finds WR Mike Evans for the 21 yard touchdown. Kicker, Matt Gay missing the extra point in what began his nightmare of a day. Jones responds by taking the team downfield resulting in an Aldrick Rosas 36- yard field goal. The Winston/Evans tandem would strike again extending the lead to 12-3 after the 3 yard touchdown catch. Gay missing another extra point.
Jones got them within 2 points (12-10) after scampering 7 yards for his first NFL touchdown. The defense could not stop Tampa as they would score the next 4 times they got the ball. Gay hit field goals of 47, 27, 52 with Evans adding 6 more after a 20 yards touchdown giving them a 28-10 halftime lead. Barkley getting hurt in the second quarter and did not return. While being attended to in the trainer’s room, Barkley could hear the team rallying. Said Barkley, “We had a message saying basically, who cares — When bad things happen, just attack; When good things happen, just attack.”
Big Blue would do just that in the third quarter as Jones and Sterling Shepard would score twice. The first time in 1 play for 75 yards. Jones said of scoring so quickly, “that was a huge play. It was a big moment there to try and flip it and get us going in the right direction. The next score took 8 plays and a 7 yard touchdown cutting the lead to 3 (28-25). The defense tightened up and New York took their only lead of the game after another Gay field goal (23 yards) made the score 31-25.
Jones showed the poise of a veteran getting the team down to the Bucs 7 yard line. He drops back and the Tampa Bay defense has locked down the receivers. Without hesitation, Jones runs untouched for the touchdown and their only lead of the game for the 32-31 lead.
Now it was time for the defense to come up with a stop. They nearly blew it as cornerback Janoris Jenkins gets beat by receiver Chris Godwin on a 44 yard catch. The Buscs were hit with two penalties moving back to their own 34. Gay pushes the ball right as it sailed past the right upright. The New York Giants winning their first game of 2019. Jones finished his day 23-36, 336 yards throwing for 2 td’s and rushing for two. Mobility has been lacking under Manning watch. Said Head coach Pat Shurmur of the winning touchdown run, “they played a big zone and covered us all down and he took off and ran for a touchdown.”Daniel Jones steps up. Barkley goes down and will be out for the next 4 to 8 weeks with a high ankle sprain. “I’m going to try to do hopefully whatever l can do to get back as quickly as possible he,” said. Life in the NFL.
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