The Giants’ Daniel Jones wants to flip the script on primetime storytelling

Daniel Jones knows more than he lets on.

He’s a notorious social media ignoramus, and if he were a racehorse he’d be wearing blinders as he sat down at the starting line.

He keeps distractions away whenever possible.

But he’s not clueless.

When he completed a 41-yard pass to Darius Slayton in Seattle last week, he knew it contradicted the statistics that supported the claim that he had struggled to hit the long ball this season.

“I think, yeah, you know, there’s probably a storyline there,” he said with a smile after the Giants beat the Seahawks 29-20.

Yes, there was a plot.

There are many storylines associated with the six-year partnership between Daniel Jones and the New York Football Giants.

Another of those reared its ugly head Sunday night against the desperate Bengals (1-4) at MetLife Stadium, as Jones took the field with him, bringing with him a record of almost complete futility in those situations.

This will be the 16th game Jones has played in prime time.

He’s 1-14 in his last 15, meaning national television viewers are almost always watching Jones and the Giants lose.

Certainly there are extenuating circumstances inherent in such a dismal record.

Yes, the Giants were the favorite in only one of those 15 games.

Still…this is a story that needs a different ending.

“Look at the past, over the years we haven’t won enough, period,” Jones said. “Whether we say it in prime time or not, I think we have to win. I am confident. I’m excited about the opportunity. I think we all are.”

The last time the Giants ventured into prime time, they trailed the Cowboys 20-15 in Week 3.

Jones wasn’t the reason for his team’s loss, but the offense failed to score a touchdown and the quarterback takes primary responsibility as a “Do Not Enter” sign is posted at the goal line.

It was another home loss for Jones and the Giants, and that’s another storyline that needs to be erased for this team, which sits at 2-3, to be taken seriously.

The Giants are 2-1 on the road and 0-2 at MetLife Stadium this season.

Jones has a career record of 12-19-1 in 32 home games and 12-21-0 in 33 away games.

At home, he has thrown 27 touchdown passes and 29 interceptions and his passer rating is 78.7.

On the road, he has 41 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions, for a passer rating of 91.8.

These divisions are startling. Jones said he didn’t notice.

“No, I didn’t see that,” he said. “But look, I think it’s the same on the football field and it’s about going out and playing well no matter where you are. So I’m excited to get out there. It should be a great atmosphere for football.”

Should it be?

Yes, the Giants are coming off a win on the road, and there is some optimism about the rest of their season.

There’s also the specter of grim inevitability that all it takes is a few threes or sacks or a costly interception for home fans to express their displeasure.

There’s a school of thought that Jones will feel more comfortable escaping all of this.

“I’m looking forward to playing at home,” he said.

Incredibly, paying customers haven’t seen Jones lead a touchdown drive since the final game of the 2022 season.

He failed to do so in 2023 losses to the Cowboys and Seahawks before tearing his ACL.

He failed to do this in this season’s home defeats against the Vikings and Cowboys.

This time the task won’t be any easier, with star rookie receiver Malik Nabers missing his second straight game due to a concussion and starting running back Devin Singletary not yet fully healed from a groin strain.

What does it say that after a stunning upset win in Seattle – a notoriously difficult place to play – the Giants are 3.5 point underdogs at home against a Bengals team that has lost four of its first five games with its only player? Will a win come against the Panthers, widely considered the worst team in the league?

It is said that few believe the Giants will win wherever they are when they play under the lights.

“We want to win every game and play well every game,” Jones said. “It doesn’t change when it is or where it is.”

History says it is so.