It is something Daniel Jones says he enjoys.
“I do like playing on the road — I’ve always liked playing on the road,’’ the Giants’ beleaguered quarterback said Thursday after practice. “Even back to college or high school. I think that’s pretty common with a lot of guys. Playing on the road and going into someone else’s stadium.’’
There might be something to this and maybe, perhaps, possibly, it can be a boon to Jones, the anemic offense and the Giants in Monday night’s meeting with the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
The splits for Jones at home and the road are ridiculously uneven, so much so that they make no sense — unless there is a belief that Jones tightens up so badly when hostility and unrest from Giants fans cascades down from the seats that he barely can function.
“I don’t have a theory on it,’’ Jones said.
In four home games this season, all losses, Jones has completed 60.4 percent of his passes, with no touchdowns, four interceptions and 15 sacks. His passer rating at MetLife Stadium is 63.2.
In three road games, the Giants are 2-1 and Jones looks like a capable quarterback.
He has completed 65.6 percent of his passes, with six touchdowns, no interceptions and only six sacks. His passer rating on the road is 106.7.
As a team, the Giants have scored one touchdown — not a misprint — at home and six on the road. They are averaging 7.8 points at home and 22.7 on the road.
The splits on defense are not nearly as stark but they certainly indicate the Giants are more forceful outside of New Jersey. They allow 23.3 points a game at home and 18.7 points on the road.
When they get out of town, the Giants are a better team.
“Other than coincidence, I couldn’t necessarily point to anything specific,’’ receiver Darius Slayton said. “It’s just so happened this year that we’ve played better on the road than we have at home. Obviously, we want to play better at home. That’s the fun part, is being able to play in front of your own fans and score and be able to celebrate with your 70,000-plus strong. But obviously, this week we’re on the road again. So hopefully we do continue to play at a high level on the road that will bode well for us.’’
Three of the four teams (Vikings, Cowboys, Eagles) that made themselves at home at MetLife Stadium have winning records.
On the road, the Giants were close but did not make enough plays in Washington and secured victories in Cleveland and Seattle.
The Giants have to acknowledge the disparity because it is reality.
They do not have to embrace it, though, and they certainly do not have to understand it.
“That’s an interesting question,’’ right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. “It’s something I’m not used to, for sure. Yeah, I have no idea why. I wish I could give you an answer for that and try to solve it. I have no idea why.’’
Slayton tried to figure it out.
“I guess when you’re on the road, the mindset is definitely different because it literally is just us and then fans have traveled to the game,’’ he said. “So obviously, we’re significantly outnumbered. It’s more of a ‘back against the wall’ feeling when you’re on the road. It kind of brings you together as a team in that mindset and just kind of building around that.’’
The home field brought out the worst in Jones and the offense in last week’s 28-3 loss to the Eagles.
It was so bad that head coach Brian Daboll removed Jones from the game with 11:26 remaining, hoping to find some sort of spark from backup Drew Lock.
That did not happen and Daboll immediately stated Jones would be the starter moving forward.
If there are more scoring woes, could Jones get pulled again?
“After the game he said to the team I was the starter going forward,’’ Jones said “I’m going through the week preparing to play and play well. In terms of his plans, better question for him.’’
After that game, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers — who had four catches for 41 yards but no touches in the second half in his first action since missing two games in concussion protocol — said, “Watch the target tape; I was open.’’ It could have been perceived as a shot at the quarterback.
“I think it’s good a receiver thinks he’s open, for sure,’’ Jones said. “You want a receiver to think he’s open, you go back and look at the tape, maybe one or two opportunities to get him the ball and see where I can do that. You want a receiver to want the ball and I think Malik understood what was going on. We had conversations, I understand his point of view, too.’’
The next chance for Jones and Nabers to make a connection comes on the road.
The Giants might be better off there.