#Ascending Daniel Jones gives us important Giants glimpse

Phinally, the Giants Phinished against the Eagles, and suddenly they can talk about winning their laughingstock division with a straight face.

An Impossible Dream is suddenly possible after Giants 27, Eagles 17.

Phinally, we got a glimpse of who and what the Giants can be when the bar for Daniel Jones is raised to where it belongs for your franchise quarterback, which means higher than merely taking care of the ball as if it were your first born.

Eight consecutive losses to the Eagles were enough.

Eight was enough.

And Joe Judge has his first two-game win streak.

And Daniel Jones has two straight games without a turnover.

Beasts of the NFC Least.

Blue Storm Rising.

Daniel Jones ascending.

The Kid was much more than a game manager.

He was a stone cold, laser-focused playmaker, both with his arm (21-for-28, 244 yards) and with his legs (9-64-1 TD).

He was the defiant leader, the unflappable field general, who never flinched when the Eagles kept making runs at him.

When the Giants needed to answer with a touchdown, Jones marched his team into the end zone.

When they needed the field goal to finish Philly, Jones hit Darius Slayton with a 40-yard bomb down the left sideline.

“He’s a really tough dude, mentally tough and physically tough,” Judge said, “and that really spreads throughout our entire team. When he steps in that huddle, there’s 10 guys looking at him knowing that he’s gonna be the one to give the answer to what the problem may be on the field.”

The Giants are growing in confidence and growing in physical and mental toughness, and it is Daniel Jones who exemplifies what the head coach should always demand from his franchise quarterback. It is what Bill Parcells demanded from Phil Simms. It is what Tom Coughlin demanded from Eli Manning.

“I think that’s an important part of playing the position is mental and physical toughness,” Jones said. “Our team is taking on that identity from Coach, and we’re playing a tough brand of football right now and I certainly try to be part of that.”

Jones and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett are meshing. His decision-making has markedly improved. He has learned when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em in the heat of battle.

“Just a better understanding in certain situations when to take those risks and when not to,” Jones said.

The Eagles had closed to 14-11 in the third quarter, and Jones responded with a 27-yard strike to Sterling Shepard and a 34-yarder to Golden Tate, and soon Wayne Gallman was in the end zone and it was 21-11.

“That’s something we’ve talked about a lot is giving those guys a chance,” Jones said, “and they’ve come up big for us time and time again.”

Now, it was 21-17, and Judge knew all along that he needed to play to win against Carson Wentz. So he did. Jones lofted one high and far and Slayton showed marvelous body control to twist around and beat Darius Slay. Big Play Slayton beat Big Play Slay on the big play.

“That was a great call by Coach Garrett there in that situation,” Jones said. “Just tried to give him a chance and you saw the play he made was an incredible one.”

And soon it was Giants 24, Eagles 17.

“Daniel some big-time throws today,” Judge said.

Daniel made some big-time runs on Sunday as well. A 14-yard touchdown run that would have made it 28-17 had been nullified by an Andrew Thomas holding penalty.

But his 34-yard touchdown that opened the scoring was another illustration of how deadly he can be executing the zone read. He kept the ball pinned high and tight to his left pectoral as he streaked into the end zone, exactly the way Tom Coughlin preached it.

And no turf monster reaching up causing him to stumble this time at MetLife Stadium. He allowed himself a little chuckle.

“Just tried to stay on my feet that time and get in the end zone,” Jones said.

He had fallen, but yes, he can get up. And he is lifting the Giants — Best 3-7 Team In Football — up with him.