Eli leaves ‘home’ a winner
Fired-up Manning gets fitting farewell as Giants say goodbye to 9-game skid
GIANTS 36 DOLPHINS 20
This was not a perfect 10. But it was perfect for 10. A day and game that was scripted for one purpose — win for Eli Manning — was kick-started in a most unlikely way when the man himself, usually a Manning of few words, gave his teammates something to consider in the locker room before they took the field Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“What really got us going was his pregame speech,’’ center Jon Halapio said. “He was just fired up, man. Just knowing this might be his last home game starting, collectively we wanted to send him out right. It was easier to do it after he gave us that pregame speech.’’
What, pray tell, were the words of wisdom from the venerable Eli?
“Last thing he said was, ‘F--k it!’ ’’ Halapio said. Excuse me? “It was damn good,’’ Sterling Shepard said.
“It was great,’’ safety Michael Thomas said. “It was one of the rallying cries, for him to break it on that, oh yeah, that set the tone for the day.’’
It took a while for Manning’s plea in what was almost definitely his final home start for the Giants to sink in. They trailed 10-7 at halftime but erupted for 29 points in the second half, with Manning doing his thing, looking good, looking shaky, looking like Eli, handing the ball to Saquon Barkley and feeling the love in a 36-20 victory over the Dolphins that Manning and the Giants had to have.
“I don’t know what the future is, I don’t know what lies next week let alone down the road,’’ Manning said. “The support and the fans and their ovation, chanting my name, from the first snap to the end I appreciate that. I appreciate them always.
“Special day, special win and one I’ll remember.’’
That the Giants (3-11) ended a nine-game losing streak felt like an afterthought. Manning subbed for injured rookie Daniel Jones in last week’s loss in Philadelphia but this start, at home, could easily be his last appearance on the field for the Giants. Jones is healing from a high ankle sprain and could be back for the Week 16 game in Washington.
The stands were certainly not f illed and there were plenty of empty gray seats, but those in attendance in the announced crowd of 72,894 were there to salute Manning, their twotime Super Bowl champion and all-time terrific guy. There were chants of “Eli Manning … Eli Manning’’ at the start and intermittently throughout the game. Manning completed 20 of 28 passes for 283 yards, tossed touchdown passes to Golden Tate and rookie Darius Slayton and threw three interceptions.
Manning was coolly eff icient in the second half, completing 12 of 14 passes for 167 yards, watching as Barkley polished off a 112-yard rushing day with two touchdown runs. After the twominute warning, with the Giants in an unfamiliar situation — winding down a game with a commanding lead — coach Pat Shurmur had Manning take the field, hand the ball to Buck Allen on first down and when the Dolphins called a time out with 1:50 remaining, Shurmur called for Manning to come off the field.
“I just felt it was the right thing to do,’’ Shurmur said. “Believe it or not, we as coaches go by our gut and we react to things.’’
Manning admitted he tried not to get too emotional, as there are two games left in the season and, even if he does not play in the final home game, he will at least get to run through the tunnel one last time.
“The fans, the chants and the awkward feeling of standing there on the sideline, kind of a circle around me, everyone looking at me and staring at me and not feeling real comfortable in that circumstance,’’ Manning said.
“I’ve never been a part of something like that,’’ Thomas said. “Gave me chills, gave me goose bumps. That man’s a legend and we respect him. Glad we were able to get a win for him.’’
Shepard, who has been with Manning longer (four years) than anyone on the active Giants roster, said, “You could see it all over his face’’ that Manning was moved.
“Just love you, man,’’ Shepard said was his message to Manning on the sideline. “He taught me a lot. I came in here as a young pup and he’s raised me right. It’s a blessing to be able to play with him.’’
The win evened Manning’s regular-season record to 117-117.
In the postgame locker room, Shurmur handed the game ball to Manning, who thanked his teammates and said enjoying a victory moments after the game “is still the best feeling in the world.” He broke the Giants down with “See you Wednesday.’’
Shurmur had no plan to give the team off on Monday.
“Typically I don’t do that,’’ Shurmur said, “but today I won’t argue with him.’’
Once again — probably for the final time — Eli Manning had his teammates’ back.
“Eli for president, right?’’ Thomas said.