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Daniel Jones arrives

These New York Giants aren't plucky overachievers — they're now legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Daniel Jones proved that much with a steely, flawless playoff debut.

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Tyler Dunne
Jan 16, 2023
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The quarterbacks we’ve lionized for months mostly disappointed at the “super” wild-card box office this past weekend.

When color commentators thumb through the thesaurus for fancy new ways to lavishly praise the same QB1s, it’s hard to realize this. But it’s true.

Lamar Jackson didn’t play and didn’t even make the trip to Cincy with his team. Joe Burrow was solid, steady, not spectacular. Trevor Lawrence was spectacular in the second half, but only after throwing four interceptions in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert blew a 27-0 lead. Geno Smith’s fumble kiboshed Seattle’s upset bid. Josh Allen was dangerously close to quarterbacking one of the worst losses in Buffalo Bills history. Kirk Cousins checked the ball down on fourth and 8.

Then, there’s that other quarterback.

This clean-shaven mensch in the black hair barely speaks above a whisper in his postgame press conference. He lacks Burrow’s swagger and Lawrence’s boy-band hair and Allen’s superhero skillset and, no, he won’t be ripping his shirt off on the team plane like Cousins any time soon. The leader of the New York Giants is as exhilarating as a box of saltines, and yet there’s no debate.

Daniel Jones was the best quarterback the first round of these NFL playoffs.

Daniel Jones proved these Giants are capable of a Super Bowl run.

It sounds absurd. It’s true.


Go Long is your independent source for longform journalism. We’ll be covering all angles of the NFL playoffs right through a trip to Phoenix for Super Bowl week.

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