'TIS THE SEASON TO BE 'SORRY'
Not even Manning’s return is able to provide spark for pathetic Giants
YOU can’t will a fairy tale to play out in front of you, something like Eli Manning directing one of those magical two-minute drills at the end of the fourth quarter and hearing MetLife Stadium chant his name after tossing the game-winning touchdown pass to someone, anyone.
What you got instead, following Cowboys 30, Giants 10, was Manning to Blue York: Sorry. Which is precisely how you can sum up these Sorry Old Giants, even without Ben McAdoo coaching them, even with Manning quarterbacking them again.
“Thought we had a good crowd today, and appreciate all their support and sorry we couldn’t give them a better game today,” Manning said.
Victor Cruz was wearing a No. 10 jersey and Plaxico Burress was wearing a No. 10 jersey on a day when so many Giants fans were wearing No. 10 jerseys, and Manning would have welcomed the both of them with open arms, and then maybe taken a few shots instead of trying to matriculate the ball down the field.
Because he means so much to the franchise, because regime change may mean he has three games left as the Giants quarterback, if that, he was treated to a warm standing ovation from Giants fans, who by 4 o’clock were either on the Turnpike or listening to maddening, tormenting chants of “Let’s Go Cowboys” from jubilant Dallas fans.
“Obviously the last two weeks have been difficult with losing my starting job, and losing your head coach ... those things are hard,” Manning said. “I don’t like losing a head coach, I take that personal.
“That’s on me for not doing my job.
“I don’t like losing my starting job. That’s personal also. I haven’t played well enough. We’re not winning games. I appreciate Spags giving me an opportunity to get the start this week and see if we could get us a win.
“I’m sorry we didn’t play well enough to get that win.”
Sorry, but Steve Spagnuolo didn’t coach well enough to get that win: Three straight runs after first-and-20 at the Dallas 23 to set up a second-quarter field goal ... punting fourth-and-3 from the Dallas 37 later in the second quarter (“I wanted to stick with the field-position game,” Spagnuolo said) ... punting fourth-and-8 from the Dallas 46 with 4:42 left and trusting his sorry defense to keep the game at 17-10.
“One possession game,” Spagnuolo said.
YOU WERE 2-10. WHAT WAS THERE TO LOSE?
In a matter of minutes, of course, Manning had thrown his two interceptions and no one bothered to cover or tackle Rod Smith on his two touchdowns.
“Three-and-a-half quarters, right in the mix,” Manning said. “We gotta find ways to finish stronger in the second half or at the end of games.”
He would hit the nail on the head when he later said: “We just don’t have kinda the firepower to finish some of these games.”
Manning (31-for-46, 228 yards, one touchdown, two late fourthquarter interceptions) completed just 11 passes to wide receivers for 75 yards. He completed one for 35 yards to Evan Engram, but nothing else longer than 16 yards, and was sabotaged by three drops. He also overthrew a wide-open Rhett Ellison in the first quarter.
“Hopefully the coaches believe I give us the best chance to get a win at quarterback,” Manning said.
A better way to put it is Manning gives these Sorry Old Giants less of a chance to lose. Or a better chance to cover.
Rookie Davis Webb was inactive again, so Geno Smith was the backup. Spagnuolo was asked if Manning will be the quarterback against the Eagles.
“I’m not gonna comment on that right now,” Spagnuolo began. And then he did. “That would be my gut feeling. Look, without looking at it and evaluating it, but Eli Manning is the quarterback right now.”
Spagnuolo would later tell a columnist that Manning would remain the starter unless “something crazy” were to happen.
Webb isn’t ready to be thrown to the wolves, and Manning doesn’t deserve another shabby benching just so Smith can be evaluated. At 2-11, let Manning play against the Eagles, as if it will matter.
“These fans have given me 14 years, and these last weeks especially, appreciate them coming out today and cheering me on, cheering on the Giants,” Manning said.
These Sorry Old Giants.