It has been a good two weeks for New York football Giants as they have won their last two games following a nine-game losing streak. They were led to victory on Sunday behind their signal caller of the future, but the past two weeks they were led to victory the week before by the guy who led them to two Super Bowl wins as in possibly his final home game as the starting quarterback.
As he took the field for possible the final time at MetLife Stadium, two-time Super Bowl champion of the NFL’s New York Giants Eli Manning was all smiles in what likely was the final start in front of Giants’ nation.
This final start had some good moments and it had some moments where moving on with the future in rookie signal caller Daniel Jones, who was out because of an ankle injury is likely to happen fully next season.
Manning, a two-time Super Bowl MVP in perhaps his final game in front of the home fans was 20 for 28 passing for 283 yards and two touchdowns and three interceptions as leading the Giants (4-11) to a 36-20 win versus the Miami Dolphins (4-11) in Week 15 on Dec. 15, snapping a franchise record-tying nine-game losing streak as they outscored the visitors 29-10 in the second half.
The 38-year-old older father of four, brother of future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and son of Hall of Famer, who played a majority of his career with the New Orleans Saints Elisha Archibald “Archie” Manning III and Olivia Manning received a standing ovation from the over 72,000 in attendance, who had signs that read, “Thank you Eli NY 10,” before the opening offensive possession and another as head coach Pat Shurmur substituted him for backup Alex Tanney with under two minutes left.
The 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient, whose overall record in his career is 117-117 received hugs from his teammates on the sidelines when he was substituted as he was serenaded with chants of “Eli Manning.”
He met his wife of 11 years Abby, who he has known since their days at the University of Mississippi, three daughters Ava, Lucy, Caroline, and son Charles in the stadium tunnel as he walked off the field for more hugs and pictures.
“Obviously, the support of the fans and their ovation and their chanting my name form the first half until the end, I appreciate that,” Manning said during his postgame presser. “I appreciate that always and my teammates coming up to me. It was a special day, a special win, and you know, one I’ll remember.”
Considering how this season went for Manning and the Giants, this day meant the world to him and Giants’ nation.
Manning lost the starting quarterback job to Jones just three games into this season and got another chance because he sprained his right ankle.
In his first game since Week 2, Manning was 15 for 30 for 203 yards and two touchdowns, both to rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton as the Giants had a 17-3 lead intermission. But were outscored 20-0 in the second half as they lost in overtime at the Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) 23-17 in Week 14.
Things were not looking good early on against the Dolphins as Manning did have three interceptions as mentioned in the game. The much-criticized Giants’ defense though did not break as two of those giveaways by Manning only resulted in field goals by Dolphins place kicker Jason Sanders.
Also, Manning as he has shown throughout his 234 career starts that he can get over those interceptions and he did in the second half as “Big Blue” put together three touchdown drives in their first five possessions of the second 30 minutes and thanks to the play of “Big Blue’s” much-criticized defense this season, and the running of second-year halfback Saquon Barkley who had 143 total yards, 112 of those yards rushing and two touchdowns as the Giants blew the game open in the 2nd half outscoring the Dolphins 29-10, which included a five-yard scoring pass to Slayton to cap a six-play, 70-yard scoring drive to open the second 30 minutes.
Veteran wideout Golden Tate, who caught a 51-yard score from Manning in the second quarter that cut the Giants then deficit to 10-7 said that Manning after the game refused to have the focus on him after the game keeping the focus on the win and its importance. Barkley had no problem after the game giving the one of the best players to ever play for the Giants his just due.
“If that is the last game and that’s the way we send Eli off, that’s the way we all planned and envisioned in doing it,” Barkley, who surpassed 100 yards rushing since Week 2 said after the win. “I wanted to go out there, play my tail off and I know those guys wanted to do the same, all for 10. He’s meant so much to this city, this franchise, organization for such a very long time.”
Tate echoed those same sentiments saying after the game, “He’s has been doing it for a long, long, long time and knows how to keep his emotions in check.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. He went back in and got that standing ovation he got. I think we all got chocked up. I would not be surprised if you guys got chocked up. What he has achieved and done for this organization is special and will go in the history book for the rest of time.”
As great as Manning was on the gridiron in his career for the Giants and the Mara and Tisch family, he was just as exceptional off of it.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, Eli and Peyton assisted in the delivery of 30,000 pounds of supplies, that included water, baby formula and pillows to the people of New Orleans, LA. Eli after taking a tour of the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Blair E. Baston Hospital for Children undertook a campaign of five years starting in 2007 to raise $2.5 million to construct “The Eli Manning Children’s Clinic” at the hospital.
In 2009, Eli, Peyton and their father Archie co-authored a children’s book entitled “Family Huddle,” that described through text and photos how the three played young boys.
For the past 11 years, Manning has hosted “Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s” Golf Classic, the oldest and largest charity gold event in Westchester County, NY that brings in money for the nonprofit guide dog school that serves the blind and visually impaired across the globe and for children on the autism spectrum.
That professionalism was on full display on Sunday as Manning gave way to a fully healthy Jones, who was back as the starter going and had the best game of his rookie season going 28 for 42 passing for 352 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in helping the Giants to a 41-35 overtime win at the Washington Redskins (3-12), their second in a row. Barkley was also sensational with 276 total yards from scrimmage, 189 of those rushing and two total touchdowns.
The last two weeks have been very special and important for the New York Football Giants, who have had a very rough season. They had a chance to pay respect to their past with Eli Manning starting the last two games in place of an injured Daniel Jones and we saw good and then the bad in the loss at the Eagles in Week 14. He got off to a rough start last week versus the Dolphins in his what was likely was going to be his final start in front of the home folks but finished with a flourish and got the send off he earned and deserved.
Then the Giants got a chance to hand the keys of the franchise back to their present and future in Jones, who led them to their second straight win at the Redskins.
This has been a tough season for the Giants and there will be some major changes this offseason and headed into the future. That said they at least know they for 16 years had the right guy leading them both on the field and off in Eli Manning and who they hope can lead them back to glory in Jones and Saquon Barkley, beginning with their season finale versus the Eagles and then the start of the 2020 season.
“You know, I’ve tried not to get too emotional, just because we still have a couple of football games left,” Manning said. “You know, I’ll still be back in the stadium. I don’t know if I’ll play that day, but I know I’ll get to run out one more time at least.”
“If it is the last one playing here where I’m starting and getting a win, you know, try to enjoy it and take it in for a moment.”
Information, statistics, and quotations courtesy of 2/6/19 www.yourtango.com story “Who Is Eli Manning’s Wife? New Details About Abby Manning-And Their 4th Baby!” by Amy Lamare; 12/15/19 11:30 p.m. edition of WNBC-TV’s “New 4 NY at 11,” with Adam Kuperstein, Gilma Avalos, Matt Brickman with weather and Bruce Beck with Sports; 12/16/19 12:05 a.m. edition of WNBC’s “Sports Final,” with Bruce Beck; https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameid/boxscore/recap/401128060; https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/recap?gameid=401128013; https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore?gameid=401127937; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Manning#Other_ventures.
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