NFL analyst raises doubts about Daniel Jones' consistency despite QB's stunning Colts debut

Daniel Jones' start to the season has been outstanding. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback has been able to lead the team to a 3-0 start, keeping their hopes of a playoff appearance alive. It is a massive turnaround from the same quarterback who struggled with the New York Giants.

In an ESPN article published on Friday, NFL analyst Matt Bowen has attempted to explain why we are seeing this improvement in Jones' performance.

Bowen also raised some doubts about whether Jones will be able to maintain this form, highlighting one aspect of his game that may be a concern.

"But my concern for Jones moving forward is his ability to make smart decisions and throw with accuracy when he is truly pressured...Can he still play at a high level when his internal clock is sped up due to edge or interior pressure?"

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Under pressure, Jones has a completion rate of 50%, below the 66% completion rate for passes against the blitz. When pressured, his average pass yardage dramatically falls.

It is worth mentioning the three opponents that the Colts have played this season (Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans).

Two of these games were against severely weakened teams, and the win against the Broncos was by a unique field goal situation. Jones was strong in all of these games, but none of these defenses were a major challenge.

Can Daniel Jones succeed against the Los Angeles Rams?

In Week 4, Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts face their first real challenge of the season in the Los Angeles Rams, who nearly defeated the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend. In terms of pressuring the quarterback, the Rams are significantly stronger than any of the teams they have played so far.

This week will be our first chance to see how the "new" Jones fares against a high-power defense.

If he can remain consistent and repeat what he has been doing this season against the Rams, then fans need to begin considering both a Colts playoff run and a potential Pro Bowl appearance for Daniel Jones.

About the author

Ben Tredinnick is a journalist who covers college football and the NFL at Sportskeeda who is currently studying for a masters in Data Science. His degree in Psychology has helped him gain an in-depth understanding of the minds of coaches.

Ben has been involved in sports writing since 2022 and covered the NFL previously. His strengths include providing in-depth profiles of athletes and coaches, with a particular focus on development, and looking at which teams could be in the hunt for today's college stars.

Ben enjoys following college sports more than the NBA or NFL because there is more variation in terms of playstyles. The tournaments are often more competitive than the major leagues, and due to the constant turnover of players, there are rarely any "superteams" in college sports.

He prioritizes research, looks at multiple sources and publications to make sure he gets the full picture of the story before writing. He tries not to write from a one-sided perspective to allow the reader to be able to make their mind up on their own.

A Texas Longhorns fan, as well as a massive New York Giants fan, some of his favorite college players of all time are Arch Manning, Tim Tebow and Reggie Bush.

When he is not working, Ben enjoys watching films (especially Godzilla) and spending time with his cat.

Know More

Colts Fans! Check out the latest Indianapolis Colts Schedule and dive into the Colts Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

Edited by Ben Tredinnick