Daniel Jones record in primetime games: Giants QB falters under lights

The New York Giants are one of the NFL’s most storied and respected franchises, and that's largely thanks to solid quarterback play over the years; There is a long list of quarterbacks who have donned a Giants uniform who have helped lead the franchise to relevance.

However, some newer fans of the game would never associate those same New York Giants with strong quarterback play.

The Giants lost 17-7 on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the offense shoulders most of the blame. In his sixth NFL season, quarterback Daniel Jones continues to struggle in the spotlight.

Jones' lackluster performance in primetime

What is Daniel Jones primetime record?

Daniel Jones' primetime record fell to 1-14 after the Giants' loss to the Bengals in Week 6. Jones has played 67 games for the Giants since they drafted him in 2019, and his primetime struggles might show a national audience why he's not a long-term solution under center.

On top of the 1-14 record, Jones hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in his last seven primetime games. Under the brightest lights, he has thrown 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Head coach Brian Daboll pointed out the obvious after the loss: "It's hard to win football games when you score seven points – that's the reality of it."

The Bengals defense entered the Week 6 matchup ranked 31st in the league in scoring, yet Jones failed to produce against the unit. He went 22 of 41 for 205 yards and threw a costly red zone interception.

The Giants roster has gradually improved around Jones, but the passer has appeared to have hit his ceiling. The coaching staff is getting the most out of the team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

The Giants' pass rush was outstanding again on Sunday night. New York leads the NFL with 26 sacks (as of Oct. 13). Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns are mounting All-Pro caliber seasons, but the Giants' passing game isn't matching that on the other side of the ball.

Because of Jones' unproductive season and his inability to elevate his game, it's seeming more likely each week that Giants general manager Joe Schoen will look for Jones' replacement in 2025.

New York is 2-4 heading into their Week 7 matchup at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. Running back Saquon Barkley will notably play his first game at MetLife Stadium as a member of their division rivals.

Daniel Jones contract

In 2023, the Giants signed Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract with $82 million guaranteed. The deal also included incentives for playoff appearances, divisional titles, and playoff wins, so long as Jones played at least 65 percent of snaps.

The contract also included a potential out after 2024 for the team after two seasons if the Giants were unimpressed by the quarterback's performance.

The $82 million in guarantees includes only Jones' 2023 and 2024 salaries and a prorated signing bonus. After the 2024 season, the quarterback's cap hit drops from $69 million to $22 million, which is part of that prorated signing bonus and a payout for a 2023 contract restructure that gave the Giants more cap space that year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daniel Jones primetime record: Giants QB falters under in big spots