NFL Week 3, 2019: 20 Bold predictions to consider
By Dan Parzych
17. Jones debuts with four touchdown passes
In what turned out to be a major surprise in the days leading up to the official start of Week 3, the New York Giants decided to get the Daniel Jones era underway earlier than expected by benching Eli Manning before Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With all due respect to Manning since nothing can ever take away from his potentially Hall of Fame career with two Super Bowl titles to show for it, this decision by the Giants seems long overdue.
It would be one thing if New York were viewed as a top contender in the NFC, but the Giants have been on the decline for years, and it certainly didn’t help Manning’s case this offseason by trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns.
Even if there are some bumps along the road for Jones moving forward, the early experience as a rookie will help the young quarterback get to the necessary level the Giants need him to be on to compete in the NFC East.
For his first start, Jones will take on a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team playing with a ton of confidence at the moment following a big Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers.
The Buccaneers’ defense certainly deserves credit for stepping up against the Panthers, but with Jones potentially playing with a little extra motivation to prove some of his critics wrong right away, the rookie could be in for a solid debut.