EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Daniel Jones surely had the most unpleasant outing of his brief career on Sunday, accounting for three turnovers and withstanding eight sacks in the Giants' loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
But Jones continues to break statistical ground in other areas.
With his 28-yard, second-quarter throw to Rhett Ellison, Jones became the first Giants quarterback in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to throw at least one touchdown pass in each of his first five NFL starts. The previous high was four games, by Jeff Hostetler (whose first four starts stretched from 1988-90) and Dave Brown (1994).
Jones joined Cleveland's Baker Mayfield, the first overall selection of the 2018 NFL Draft, as quarterbacks in the last two seasons to throw a touchdown pass in each of their first five starts.
Jones has thrown a total of six touchdown passes, each to a different receiver. In addition to Ellison, they are Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard, Wayne Gallman, Darius Slayton and Golden Tate.
*Jones rushed for 35 yards on Sunday, the highest total by a Giants quarterback since Oct. 31, 1999, when Kent Graham ran for 41 yards in a victory in Philadelphia.
*It states the obvious to say the Giants made it far more difficult for themselves in the game by allowing those eight sacks and finishing with a minus-three turnover differential. But a look at the long-term statistical trend confirms the obvious.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, in the 10 seasons from 2010-19, teams whose quarterbacks have been sacked eight or more times are 3-40. During that same period, teams with a turnover differential of minus-three are 19-257.
Under Pat Shurmur, the Giants are 5-1 when they have a positive turnover differential and 1-13 when it is negative (1-2 when it is even), highlighting the importance of securing the ball.
*The Giants did not force a turnover on Sunday for the third time this season (also at Dallas and vs. Buffalo) and have lost their last 13 games in which they do not have a takeaway. They last won without forcing a turnover on Oct. 16, 2016 vs. Baltimore.
*On Sunday, the Giants totaled 263 yards, while Arizona finished with 245. It was the first Giants game in which neither team exceeded 265 yards since Dec. 11, 2016, when each team gained 260 yards in a 10-7 Giants victory against Dallas.
*The Giants have not finished with more than 263 yards in each of their last three games, their longest such streak since the final six games of the 2003 season. During that time, they have not exceeded 161 passing yards, the first time that's happened in three consecutive games since Dec. 7-21, 2008.
*The Giants are 0-3 this season when they finish with less than 200 net passing yards. In 2018, they were 4-0 in such games.
*Arizona's longest pass completion on Sunday gained just 12 yards. It was the first time since Philadelphia on Oct. 18, 1964 a Giants opponent did not complete a pass for more than 12 yards. Ironically, it was the second week in a row an NFC West team's longest pass was a 12-yarder (the Rams vs. San Francisco).
*Ellison's 28-yard touchdown reception was the longest of his career. His previous long was a 16-yarder at Houston on Sept. 23, 2018.
*Through seven games, Giants opponents have run the ball on 48.3% of their plays, the NFL's fourth-highest percentage behind Miami (53.8), Cincinnati (53.6) and the Chargers (49.5)
*When the Giants visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday, each team will try to stop a three-game losing streak. The Giants last played a game in which each team had losing streaks of at least three games on Oct. 8, 2017, against the Chargers. Each team was 0-4. The Chargers won, 27-22.
*The Giants this afternoon released rookie linebacker Tuzar Skipper to add a player at that position with plenty of experience.
The team’s newest member is Deone Bucannon, a 6-1, 211-pounder who was the 27th overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He played five games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season – including against the Giants on Sept. 22 – before his release on Oct. 9.
In six seasons, Bucannon, who played collegiately at Washington State, has played in 75 regular-season games with 56 starts. His career totals include 395 tackles (302 solo); 7.0 sacks; and two interceptions, including one he returned 29 yards for a touchdown in 2015; 12 passes defensed; seven forced fumbles; and five fumble recoveries. Bucannon also had 14 tackles (seven solo) in three postseason games for the Cardinals.
Skipper played six games for the Giants after being acquired off waivers from Pittsburgh on Sept. 9. He assisted on two tackles, including a half-sack, and one special teams tackle.
Photos from the career of new Giants linebacker Deone Bucannon.
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) fumbles as he is sacked by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Packers recovered the football. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2015, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is sacked by strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) and defensive end Calais Campbell (93) during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. Bucannon plays inside linebacker, but is listed in the Cardinals depth chart as a "moneybacker." (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 23-0. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell (35) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (23) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) recovers a fumble as Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen (55) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin (89) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) and linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) after catching a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu (32) and Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game at Twickenham Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) reacts after dropping Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (7) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20), left, tackles Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) during the first half of an NFL football game at Twickenham Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon signs autographs for fans before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during a preseason NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) and Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) celebrate Golden's sack of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during the second of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Philadelphia Eagles' Zach Ertz (86) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (23) during an NFL football training camp practice Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) hits Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) pressures New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, top, is hit by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon as he tries to catch a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) celebrates a stop against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) lines up against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, center, is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) and Kevin Minter, bottom, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, right, loses the football as Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon, left, strips the ball away during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Washington State defensive back Deone Bucannon runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Washington State defensive back Deone Bucannon runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2013, file photo, Washington State safety Deone Bucannon (20) runs back an interception during the first half of the NCAA New Mexico Bowl college football game against Colorado State in Albuquerque, N.M. Bucannon was selected in the first round, 27th overall, by the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL draft on Thursday, May 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
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