Daniel Jones Has Started for the Colts
The quarterback leads the Indianapolis Colts against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Football
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Do you believe a quarterback's past primetime struggles will continue in future games?
Daniel Jones has taken the starting role for the Indianapolis Colts in a primetime matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts are currently working to avoid falling to a 0-2 start this season.
Why it matters
The game serves as a critical test for Jones, who holds a difficult 1-15 career record in primetime contests. His performance remains a focal point for the franchise as the team aims to secure its first win.
Jones enters the game with a 1-15 career primetime record and a 12-21 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also holds an 8.8% career sack rate during these appearances.
The players
Daniel Jones
He is the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts who previously played for the New York Giants.
Indianapolis Colts
This is a professional American football team that competes in the NFL and is based in Indianapolis.
Kansas City Chiefs
This is a professional American football team and the opponent for the Colts in this primetime game.
The details
Jones moves to Indianapolis after spending his previous 16 primetime games with the New York Giants. He has struggled under the lights, having failed to throw a single touchdown pass in his last eight primetime starts.
Timeline
The AFL-NFL merger occurred in 1970.
Jones secured his only career primetime victory in 2022.
Jones recorded three primetime losses in 2023.
Jones recorded three primetime losses in 2024.
The Sunday Night Football game is scheduled for September 20, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This performance benchmark updates Jones's status relative to historical trends tracked since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. His success or failure tonight significantly alters the Colts' outlook for a competitive start to the season.
Fantasy managers should note Jones's 70.5 career primetime passer rating when setting lineups for this matchup. His ability to avoid sacks is a key metric to watch, as he once surrendered 10 sacks in a single primetime outing.
The takeaway
Jones looks to break a career-long trend of poor performance in primetime games by delivering a win against the Chiefs. Improving his touchdown-to-interception ratio will be the primary indicator of his success in the Colts' offensive system.
Further reading
For more on the team, visit the Football section.
Live Poll
Do you believe a quarterback's past primetime struggles will continue in future games?
