Giants' Eli Manning and Daniel Jones put up strong first-half performances vs. Bears

Both QBs threw TD passes in first half

8/17/2019, 3:42 AM

Both Giants quarterbacks had strong first-half performances on Friday night against the Bears.

Eli Manning got things started, systematically moving the first-team offense down the field on a touchdown drive. Manning was 4-4 for 42 yards on the drive, capping it with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Bennie Fowler to put the Giants up 7-0.

That would be Manning's only drive of the night.

"I thought Eli did a good job," Pat Shurmur said after the game. "He really played quarterback well on that drive, and he got us in the end zone."

 

On the Giant's next possession, Daniel Jones took the field with the first-team offense. After leading a 62-yard march down the field, Jones mishandled a snap, fumbling the ball away.

After the Giants went three-and-out on their next drive, Jones' third possession was also a short one. On the third play, Jones was strip-sacked by James Vaughters, with the Bears recovering deep in Giants' territory.

"Guy got beat, and he swatted it out of his hands," said Shurmur. "That's it, you've got to secure it. And I don't think he ever took a snap under center in college, so that's just part of the growing, but he didn't panic."

But Jones remained confident and went on to put up strong numbers the rest of the way before halftime. He ended the half 11-14 for 161 yards and a touchdown pass to TJ Jones. 

Jones showed the ability to hang tough in the pocket, and also showed great touch on his passes down the field.

"I think I've made progress and I think in certain areas I feel a lot more confident than I did even when camp started or a couple weeks ago, but I still think there's so much to learn for me," Jones said after the game. "I'm certainly more confident and more comfortable, but I see a lot of things I need to improve on."

'He had a little bit of adversity to fight back from," Shurmur added, "But I think for the most part he threw the ball well at got us in the end zone.

"I think he's making good progress. As he goes along here, he's checking all the boxes, and when it's his time to play, he will be ready. So I'm pleased with the progress that he's making."

Shurmur was also asked after the game about John Mara's comments about hoping Jones doesn't play this season, and as is to be expected, Shurmur said he felt the same as the team's owner.

"John owns the team, right? We're on the same page," Shurmur said.

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