Daniel Jones’ return to the field for the New York Giants did not go as hoped, as he faced a disappointing and hostile reception in their season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. After a lengthy recovery from ACL surgery, Jones struggled mightily, and his performance was met with boos from the home crowd.
In the 28-6 loss to the Vikings on Sunday, Jones had a tough outing, completing 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards. He threw two interceptions, one of which was a pick-6 by Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who intercepted a swing pass with one hand and ran it into the end zone. Jones acknowledged the struggles, saying, “Obviously not good enough. Didn’t get in the end zone, scored six points. Didn’t create much rhythm and flow for ourselves. I’ve got to be better, certainly got to play better, give ourselves more chances to make plays and execute more consistently.”
The offensive line, which was expected to provide better protection, allowed Jones to be sacked five times. The Giants’ rushing game was also ineffective, with only 74 yards gained on 21 carries, and most of those came after the game was already decided. Additionally, despite the Giants’ plans to throw deep this season, they didn’t attempt a single deep pass, and their longest play was a pair of 25-yard catches by rookie Malik Nabors.
The frustration from the Giants’ fans was palpable. The team was booed off the field at halftime, trailing 14-3, and the discontent grew as the Vikings scored on their opening drive of the second half. The situation worsened when Van Ginkel’s interception and touchdown made it 28-6, sealing the Giants’ defeat.
Jones expressed his disappointment and frustration, but also highlighted the need to improve quickly. “It’s certainly frustrating and disappointing to get the result today that we did,” he said. “I think for us, we’ve got to understand this is the first week and there’s a lot of football to play, so we’ve got to clean it up. We’ve got to make some improvements fast and a lot of football to play, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Giants’ performance is a stark contrast to their playoff appearance in 2022, where they finished with a 9-7-1 record under head coach Brian Daboll. Last season’s 6-11 record and this season’s rocky start have left fans frustrated, as evidenced by the hostile reaction Jones and the team received.