Daniel Jones is walking into “Sunday Night Football” against the Chiefs with a jaw-dropping 1-15 career record in primetime, the worst mark any starting quarterback with at least 10 starts has put up since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. This isn’t just a tough streak, this is a historic problem, and it’s something he’s gotta turn around if the Colts want to avoid an 0-2 start after he’s back from tearing his Achilles.
The Numbers Are So Bad, They’re Almost Unbelievable
Forget the team record for a second, because even when you zoom in on Jones’ individual play, it’s just as rough. Out of 78 quarterbacks who have logged at least 10 primetime starts since 1970, Jones is dead last, 78th, in touchdown-to-interception ratio, sitting at a brutal 12 touchdowns to 21 interceptions. It doesn’t get better. He’s 76th in yards per attempt at just 5.8, and his passer rating is also 76th, a dismal 70.5. Even his sack rate, 8.8%, puts him way down at 70th. We’re talking about streaks here that are genuinely mind-boggling too. Jones hasn’t thrown a single touchdown in any of his last eight primetime starts. Eight! That’s the longest such drought by any quarterback since 1970, with no other QB even hitting five games. And get this: he’s also gone six straight games with zero touchdown passes and at least one interception. Again, that’s the longest streak since the merger. His only primetime win? Back in 2022, a 20-12 victory against Washington where he barely scraped by with 160 yards and 5.0 yards per attempt. A win’s a win, sure, but the good times haven’t exactly rolled since.
Reliving the Primetime Nightmare
His recent primetime losses paint a pretty clear picture. Take Week 1 of 2023: the Giants, fresh off a playoff berth, got absolutely pummeled 40-0 by the Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football.” Jones threw for just 104 yards, two picks, got sacked seven times, and watched a blocked field goal get returned for a touchdown to kick things off. His passer rating was a pitiful 32.4; throwing every pass incomplete would actually give you a higher rating at 39.6! Then there’s Week 3, 2023: 49ers 30, Giants 12. Jones was under siege all night, throwing for only 137 yards with no touchdowns and another interception. Now, he faces the Chiefs. This Sunday night showdown will be Jones’ first primetime start with the Colts, with all 16 previous contests coming during his time with the Giants.
This Sunday night against the Chiefs, it’s not just about getting the Colts their first win of the season or avoiding an 0-2 hole. It’s about Daniel Jones finally breaking free from this truly abysmal primetime curse. His Achilles is mended, but can he mend his primetime reputation against one of the toughest teams in the league? All eyes are on him to see if he can finally deliver under the bright lights.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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