UNBELIEVABLE
Manning fumble another symptom of awful season
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — There are those who think Ben McAdoo is too hard on his franchise quarterback — a silly notion, really — but what do you think the beleaguered coach was thinking Sunday, watching Manning early in the second quarter of a dismal 31-21 loss to the 49ers?
The Giants got the ball near midfield on Curtis Grant’s fumble recovery and Sterling Shepard’s subsequent 26-yard reception had the Giants in business. From the San Francisco 22-yard line, Manning was pressured quickly by Ronald Blair — who got the better of ailing right tackle Justin Pugh — and the play was ruined.
Manning needed to take the sack and move on. Instead, he panicked and tried to shovel the ball forward, which was illadvised and, quite frankly, amateurish. It turned into the fourth lost fumble of the season for Manning, this one of his own making.
“I’ve got to hold onto it,’’ Manning said. “I have to do a better job of doing that and keep two hands on the ball and I just go to throw it. He had one hand on it but I have to cover it, get a knee down and hold onto it as long as I can.’’
Manning said he was looking for tight end Evan Engram on a deep route and once he was under pressure he was “trying to flip it out.’’
It was a textbook case of trying to do too much, which is what happens in a season that has devolved to the point where the Giants are 1-8.
It was a strange game for Manning, who threw touchdown passes to Engram and Roger Lewis and compiled a passer rating of 113.9. Yet there was only one touchdown and 13 points for the first 59 minutes.
This was Manning’s 208th consecutive regular-season start, now even with older brother Peyton for the second-longest streak in NFL history, way behind Brett Favre (297 consecutive starts). Pey- ton Manning was in the building to see the latest Giants loss.
“It’s tough losing,’’ Eli Manning said. “You work hard every week to go out there and execute well to make plays to put your team in a situation to win and it’s not happening.’’