Eli holding onto job after win over 49ers
Eli Manning may never lead the Giants to another victory, but for at least one more week, the possibility of Manning directing another run nobody sees coming remains in play.
Rookie quarterback Kyle Lauletta’s NFL debut was pushed back following Monday night’s Manning-led comeback, in which the Giants snapped a five-game losing streak with a 27-23 win over the 49ers.
Manning, who entered the game with only eight touchdowns in the team’s first eight games, completed 19-of-31 passes for 188 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, and became the seventh player in NFL history to amass 350 career touchdown passes.
“Anytime a player puts a winning performance on the field he should feel good about it, at least for a day or so, and then the challenge is then to prepare to do it again in a week,” coach Pat Shurmur said Tuesday of Manning. “He helped us win a game, and he should feel good about it. Now we just have to build on it going into Tampa.”
Though Manning had just his second game of the season with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions — the other came in Week 3 at Houston — the 37-year-old is set up for more success Sunday against the Buccaneers.
This season, Tampa Bay has the league’s worst scoring defense (32.3 points per game) and has allowed a league-worst 32 passing touchdowns, while registering just one interception. The Bucs also rank 29th in passing yards allowed per game (292) and yards allowed per attempt (8.7).
The Giants (2-7) even return to MetLife Stadium as one-point favorites over the Buccaneers (3-6).
“Anytime you win it kind of verifies that what you’re doing is right,” Shurmur said. “I sensed a real joy in the locker room [Monday], a bunch of guys that put a lot into it, and we were able to overcome some adversity and win the football game. Winning, hopefully, you can get on a little run now, and win a few games in a row here, and just see what happens.”
If Manning can remain standing, the Giants have a far better chance to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since December 2016.
After being sacked 31 times through the first eight games, Manning showed more comfort behind an improved offensive line, which matched a season-best mark in allowing one sack.
“I think it’s a coordinated effort. Certainly, Eli had a winning performance,” Shurmur said. “In total, the combination of having more time to throw the ball, along with being a little more accurate on some throws, the results were much better.”
Right guard Jamon Brown’s debut played a part, impressing Shurmur after he was claimed off waivers last week.
“I thought he did a good job. I thought for the most part our pass protection was as good as it’s been this year,” Shurmur said. “I thought he did some of the things we thought he could do. He’s very firm. He gets his hands on you, and I thought he played well. It’s a credit to him.
“He’s only been here a little over a week and he was able to go in there and really show up in a way that you don’t typically see for a guy that’s been there that short a period of time.”