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Rookie Jones learns a few lessons vs. Belichick, Patriots

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Oct 11, 2019

AP photo Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones found the going tough Thursday night vs. the Patriots.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots became part of the beginning of the Daniel Jones Era for the New York Giants on Thursday night in their 35-14 win.

The rookie Jones got his fourth straight start last night at Gillette Stadium since replacing Giant longtime QB Eli Manning nearly a month ago after New York started the season 0-2 and struggled, completing 15 of 31 passes for 161 yards, a touchdown, but three interceptions.

“I think I didn’t play well by any means,” Jones said after the loss. “I don’t mean to confuse that, but I don’t think it was overwhelming. I think it was just bad plays, bad decisions. … Everyone’s faster, everyone’s bigger in this league.”

Ironically, the Patriots were interested in Jones and had him in for a pre-draft meeting, but of course he was snagged with the sixth pick overall by the Giants. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is now 12-0 at home against rookie quarterbacks.

“Would it be the same game plan if Eli was in there?” Belichick said this week. “I don’t know. You’d have to ask them that, but I don’t see them holding back anything. He’s very athletic, he’s mobile. I wouldn’t say he’s just go back and start running, but if he needs to run, if the protection breaks down or if there’s an opening there, if he gets outside of the pocket, he can cause a lot of damage with his speed and his ability to extend plays.”

Belichick also said he likes Jones’ toughness. It’s a given he’d be under pressure for last night’s game with the way the Patriots have been attacking on defense, but going into it he’s handled pass rushes well.

“He’s shown good toughness in the pocket,” Belichick said, also lauding Jones’ accuracy. “He’s been hit a few times, but he just stands in there and can keep ripping it. So he’s been impressive.”

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Patriots running back James White, who knows a little about catching balls out of the backfield, says fellow back Sony Michel is getting the hang of it.

“I mean, he does it all the time in practice,” White said. “He may not have had many opportunities in games previously, but he’s catching the ball confidently, making plays with it in his hands. He’s always trying to improve just like the rest of us in this locker room.”

Michel rushed 22 times for 86 yards Thursday night and caught two passes for 27 yards.

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Belichick this week was wary of Giants receiver Golden Tate, who made his debut last week after missing the first four games of the season due to a PED suspension. Tate is most effective in yards after catch, and last night he caught a 64-yard TD pass from Jones.

“He’s very dangerous in the return game,” Belichick said. “He’s good with any play where he runs with the ball. So that could be screens, speed sweeps, but he’s also obviously a very dangerous receiver.

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Despite the fact that injured Rex Burkhead was ruled out, rookie back Damien Harris was still inactive. Other Patriot inactives were wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (as expected, hamstring), third QB Cody Kessler, rookie corner Joejuan Williams, offensive lineman Korey Cunningham and defensive lineman Byron Cowart.

No surprises for the Giants – injured running backs Wayne Gallman,Jr. And Saquon Barkley, injured tight end Evan Engram and receiver Sterling Shepard, injured linebacker Tae Davis, tackle Eric Smith and guard Chris Slade.

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The Patriots honored former safety Rodney Harrison, inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame this summer, at halftme.

“I feel so honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to play for you guys for six years,” Harrison said to the Gillette crowd. “… And Coach Bill (Belichick), you believed in me when everybody turned their back on me.”

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The Patriots lost receiver Josh Gordon midway through the game to a knee injury after he was making a tackle on a fumble…

With his second completion last night, Brady passed Peyton Manning for second place all-time in passing yards, and one series later moved past Manning into third all-time in pass completions…

Earlier in the day, the Giants, with a shortage at running back due to injuries, promoted undrafted rookie Austin Walter from the practice squad , and released veteran QB Alex Tanney…

Patriots safety Devin McCourty on Thursday night football: “It’s definitely a tough turnaround, especially on the road (the previous week), and then you’ve got to come back home, kind of get situated. …I think it helps we’ve had to do it for a while now, so you have some experience with it.”

The Patriots and Giants, annual preseason opponents, have played each other just 10 times in the regular season, with New England owning a 6-4 advantage. …

Belichick said former Patriot Nate Solder has been an iron man for the Giants. “Nate’s a solid player,” he said. “Veteran player,obviously very experienced and he’s played all the snaps I’ve seen at left tackle.”

The spread at one point of 16.5 points was the biggest in Thursday Night Football history, topping the previous spread of plus-15 when the Giants were at the Cowboys in 1992…

Patriots get an even bigger non-bye, post Thursday night gap between games as they don’t take the field again until they visit the Jets at the Meadowlands on Oct. 21 for Monday Night Football.

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