Forget everything you thought you knew about quarterback Daniel Jones. If you fell asleep in August and are just waking up, you are going to be in for a shock. This is especially true if you are an Indianapolis Colts fan.
Danny Dimes hasn't just been good this season, but he has been elite. His numbers are all career highs in the best of ways, and he is a perfect fit for head coach Shane Steichen's system. One needs no further proof of that than Exhibit A: Indianapolis versus the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7.
The quarterback showed every facet of what can make him special. (Again, if you just woke up, that previous sentence is not a joke; Jones can be special.) He was poised on the few times he was pressured, made smart decisions on where the ball should be delivered, and he even threw deep several times successfully.
Daniel Jones is creating the best possible problem for the Indianapolis Colts
The Chargers had struggled offensively a bit coming into the game, but defensively, they were sound. LA was also getting edge rusher Khalil Mack back from injury. Instead, Jones made mincemeat of the Chargers as if he were throwing against a practice squad defense.
Jones finished 23 of 34 for 288 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-24 victory over the Chargers in Week 7. LA had no clue how to stop the Indianapolis machine.
The Daniel Jones problem for the Indianapolis Colts and the rest of the NFL currently is an ironic one. He's been so brilliant that one might wonder if he is simply the tool Steichen is using to finally be successful in Indy or if Jones is truly great on his own. Either way, the issue is that he might be stealing potential MVP votes from teammate Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor has been equally great. To be fair, a bunch of the credit for the success of Jones and Taylor should go to the offensive line. Taylor has had holes to run through, and the quarterback has had time to throw.
But the Colts' offense has been so elite, and seemingly will continue to stay that way, that MVP voters are going to ask themselves whether they want to vote for Taylor, the running back who will probably lead the NFL in rushing yards, or Jones, who, well...is a quarterback and QBs always win the award.
Daniel Jones is proving to be worthy of such talk, while also making the New York Giants look foolish for giving up on him. Jones should have really been the one giving up on the awful Giants organization. It's just too bad for the Indianapolis Colts that both players who are trending toward MVP consideration might split some of the vote between themselves, allowing someone else to win.
Of course, the team also has to worry about signing Jones to an extension, but that's a good problem to have. And one that can wait until next offseason.