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Daniel Jones led the Giants again into the dance.
A 38-10 rout of the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, led by Jones’ 4 touchdowns, clinched the Giants’ first playoff berth since 2016.
“Very particular,” proprietor John Mara mentioned outdoors the victorious dwelling locker room.
The group chanted “Daniel Jones”. within the fourth quarter and gave their quarterback a standing ovation when coach Brian Dayball referred to as on backup Tyrod Taylor for Jones’ curtain name with 7:30 left.
“It undoubtedly beats the choice,” Jones mentioned.
“I believed he earned it,” Daboll mentioned.
The Giants (9-6-1) are locked into the NFC’s six seed, the second of three Wild Playing cards.
After the common season on the Philadelphia Eagles subsequent weekend, Daboll’s Giants will open the postseason on the Minnesota Vikings, offered the San Francisco 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau.
Jones completed Sunday’s sport 19 of 24 passing for 177 yards and two TDs, plus 11 carries for 91 yards and two extra TDs. He then grew to become a real hero to his teammates, giving them Monday and Tuesday off when he cracked the crew in postseason video games.
“The place’s the liquor?” Web page rusher Jihad Ward yelled on Instagram Stay searching for the closest get together.
Jones has change into so helpful that his teammates are telling him to cease taking part in defenders, like when the Giants QB handed on Colts quarterback Bobby Okereke’s final rating.
“I advised him to get off,” left deal with Andrew Thomas mentioned, not joking.
Jones’ prime-time efficiency got here as momentum builds towards the Giants presumably bringing again Jones and Saquon Barkley subsequent season.
The crew may use the franchise or transition tag on one whereas signing the opposite to a long-term contract, or GM Joe Sean may give two multi-year offers. It’s going to depend upon whether or not they can discover a center floor on phrases and value.
That is February and March speak although. On Sunday, the Giants earned the correct to have a good time.
Daboll acquired a “sticky and moist” Gatorade bathtub because the clock wound down from Ward and security Julian Love on the sideline. The primary-year coach then punched the gang.
“Does this imply we’re within the playoffs?” Dabol burst into the pulpit. “It was thrilling. You’re employed laborious on this enterprise to offer your self the chance to play further innings and extra video games. And we have now completed it. Pleasure, in fact, undoubtedly.”
The victory was capped by a 52-yard interception return by Landon Collins within the second quarter that buried the Colts in a 24-3 halftime gap.
It was Collins’ first dwelling sport in New Jersey since signing with the Giants in October. And he scored to assist ship the Giants to the playoffs for the primary time since his All-Professional yr in 2016.
“After I walked in right here, I used to be like, ‘That is the place I am alleged to be,'” Collins mentioned. “It wasn’t like, ‘Ah, I am again dwelling.’ It was like. “That is the place I used to be alleged to be. That is the place I should be.”
Rookie No. 5 general decide Keivon Thibodeau made his presence felt once more, knocking Colts beginning QB Nick Foles out with a rib damage on a sack within the second quarter.
Thibodeau made snow angels on the turf subsequent to an ailing Foler and shaped his fingers on the sting of a “fall asleep” signal as Foler limped and Colter wilted.
Thibodeau insisted after the sport that he did not know Foles was injured, nonetheless, as he waved his arms in celebration on the turf.
Regardless, few predicted the Giants would crack the postseason in Daboll’s first yr on the helm. However he acquired them right here, going 6-1 within the crew’s first seven video games.
That they had wins over the Titans, Packers (in London) and Jaguars in that stretch, along with dwelling wins over the Panthers, Bears and Ravens.
No outcome was greater than their Week 1 win at Tennessee, when Daboll set an exhilarating tone with two factors and a layup with 1:06 to play within the fourth quarter on Jones’ shovel go to Barkley.
The Giants have struggled to choose up wins within the second half of their schedule, going simply 3-5-1 over their final 9 video games. They’re additionally simply 1-3-1 within the NFC East.
However a postseason berth is refreshing for homeowners Mara and Steve Tisch, given the group’s 22-59 report (.272 win %) during the last 5 seasons. Mara additionally briefed Daboll after the sport.
“He mentioned congratulations,” Daboll mentioned of his dialog with Mara within the trainers’ room. “He was excited. He’s completely satisfied, smiling.”
Daboll is the Giants’ fourth head coach within the final six years, together with Ben McAdoo, who led the crew to the final playoff berth in 2016, Pat Shurmur and Joe Choose.
Shurmur, Choose and Daboll all coached Jones. And whereas the younger defender has suffered loads and his talents have been continuously questioned, he left little doubt on Sunday what he’s able to.
“Whether or not he is operating or throwing or main the way in which for us, I felt like he had the instruments to do it the entire time,” mentioned Thomas, a left deal with. “He is an amazing participant and persons are beginning to notice that. I believe it is good for the followers to acknowledge that as a result of he is had a tricky time. I am completely satisfied for him.”
Receivers Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins each caught Jones’ Sunday TD go, and Barkley set a brand new profession excessive for single-season speeding with 1,312 yards on Sunday’s 12 carries of 58 yards.
“I imply no person, let’s be sincere, aside from women and men, no person gave us an opportunity to try this,” Barkley mentioned of the playoff berth. “And we simply caught to the script, stored believing in one another and gave ourselves an opportunity. And we did it.”
Most significantly, although, the Giants are again within the dance for the second time in 11 years. And for now, whereas this yr ought to nonetheless be a long-term rebuilding yr, they should have a good time.
That is why, whereas Daboll will possible make just a few begins for subsequent week’s regular-season finale in Philly, the rookie coach mentioned he hasn’t considered it but.
“I do not,” he mentioned with a sigh. “I am simply going to take pleasure in this one proper right here. I will go dwelling, smoke a cigar and be with my household.”
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