Changes could be coming if Big Blue loses in San Fran
Could this finally be Eli Manning’s last hurrah?
Probably not quite yet, but Giants head coach Pat Shurmur hinted this past week that change could be coming if the quarterback doesn’t lead the offense to better results soon.
New York (1-7) is on the brink of elimination from realistic playoff contention in Monday night’s game at San Francisco (27) — and that’s if you’re a glass-half-full person.
“I spoke to Eli a couple times this weekend and I explained to Eli that he’s going to start Monday,” Shurmur said. “I also explained to Eli that everybody needs to play better and as we go through this, it’s important that we’re not ‘almost’ in these games; we do what we have to do to get it over the top and win football games. We’ll just take it from there.”
Manning obliged that the time is indeed now as the Giants prepare to play their first game in 15 days after recharging during a bye week.
“There’s urgency to get things going, for sure,” he said. “We got to get some wins. We got to get going, and everybody wants it. The team needs it, for the morale and for just the hard work and everything we put in. Just need to reap the benefits of the work and feel good about what we’re doing.”
As far as momentum goes, certainly the opportunity is there for the Giants. The 49ers won their first game in almost two months in Week 9 against the Raiders. That was a Thursday game, so San Francisco also has had ample rest, but the NFC West franchise is dealing with a bevy of its own issues.
Still, there is more evidence that the Niners are closer to turning a closer than the Giants. Despite having faced two elite offenses in the Chiefs and Rams, San Francisco ranks 18th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA rankings for defensive efficiency. The Giants are 26th, and their unit recently lost defensive tackle Damon Harrison and cornerback Eli Apple in trades for draft picks.
Three of New York’s eight opponents so far — New Orleans, Atlanta and Washington — rank worse in DVOA, and yet the Giants averaged only 17 points in those three losses.
The ongoing theme for the Giants is red-zone efficiency. Their 40-percent touchdown rate when reaching their opponent’s 20-yard line is worse than every team besides the Jets. They average 3.1 red-zone trips per game — 17th overall.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who said Friday his goal is for the Giants to win their final eight games and make the playoffs with a 9-7 record, is on pace for career highs in receptions (122) and yards (1,570) but only four touchdowns.
“There’s no more holding back, playing it safe, or waiting for the next play, because you don’t know if you’re going to have a next play,” Beckham said. “That’s just the mentality we have to take. Any chance I get now, and I catch one of these slants, there’s no motion wasted. It’s just got to be somebody has got to come catch me. You trust your training, you trust your speed.”
Meanwhile, San Francisco’s offense found a spark against woeful Oakland. Undrafted rookie Nick Mullens became the starting quarterback after beginning the season on the practice squad, before Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL in September.
Mullens led the Niners on six scoring drives, including a six-play, 75-yard series in his debut, ending with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon.
Ominously, Monday’s matchup has parallels to last season’s meeting. That game was also in San Francisco in Week 10, and the 1-7 Giants fell apart in the fourth quarter as the 0-9 Niners won their first game.
“I don’t think the outcome — not saying we’re going to win, but how they took over on us last year — will be the same,” strong safety Landon Collins said. “Guys know they’re still playing for something for themselves — either their family, the name on your back, or just interviewing for the other teams if you’re still on this team. It’s always good to just go out there and play great ball.”