Eli Manning, having one of his best seasons, can put Giants in charge of NFC East with win Sunday
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) passes the football against the New England Patriots in the first half of an NFL football game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Maybe the Giants really are only a .500 team, even if that's good enough for first place in a lousy NFC East. It could be their poor red zone play; they have scored touchdowns on only 44.4 percent of their trips inside the opponents' 20. Or perhaps it's a handful of late-game clock management issues.
Lost in those negatives: Eli Manning is in the midst of one of the best statistical seasons in his 12-year run with the team.
Less than two months away from his 35th birthday, Manning's increased mastery of the West Coast system, brought in last season by offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, has produced some impressive results. In fact, Manning hadn't experienced back-to-back seasons with these kinds of numbers in his entire career.
Some salient stats that underscore his success:
With 21 touchdown passes and only six interceptions, Manning is on pace to produce a career-high 34 scoring passes (he had a career-best 31 in 2010) and only 10 interceptions, matching his previous low in 2008.
His 96.9 rating is on pace to surpass his career high of 93.1 in 2009, and he has a chance to finish with back-to-back 90-plus ratings for the first time. He had only two 90-plus ratings before 2014.
His 64.6 completion percentage is on pace to beat his career best of 63.1 last season.
He's on track for 4,320 passing yards, which would be the third highest of his career.
And maybe the most impressive number of all: His 1.6 interception percentage is half his career average of 3.2 and would eclipse his season-best 2.1 in 2008.
Anyone concerned that Manning was on the downside of his career after signing a four-year, $84-million contract extension just before the season should be convinced that is simply not the case. If anything, he actually might be getting better with age.
Of course, that doesn't preclude the possibility that he'll throw a game-changing interception as the Giants proceed down the stretch toward what they hope will be their first playoff appearance since their 2011 Super Bowl season. But Manning's increased comfort with McAdoo's offense augurs well for the Giants, who face a critical NFC East game at Washington on Sunday at FedEx Field.
A win for the Giants would increase their lead to two games over Washington (4-6) and further pad their advantage over the Eagles (4-7) and Cowboys (3-8).
Manning likes where he's at, although he's never completely satisfied with the numbers. Especially the one he cares about most: the Giants' 5-5 record. The red zone problems also are foremost in his mind.
"I feel like the offense is moving the ball well," he said. "There's a lot of good things we're doing -- getting completions, converting on third downs, getting into the red zone. We have to be more efficient in the red zone, get more touchdowns instead of field goals. Those can be four-point swings. If we can convert them, we'll be better.
"We're doing a lot of good things. We have a good plan each and every week, and our preparation is good. A few areas to clean up and we'll be in good shape."
Does he feel as if this has been his best year?
"No, just because we have some losses," Manning said. "Maybe it's an opportunity to finish the way we want to, and it can be a good year."
This is a decidedly upbeat team and an upbeat quarterback as the Giants return from their bye week to resume a season with immense playoff opportunities. They haven't been in the race this late since 2012, when they faltered down the stretch to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs in the season after Manning won his second Super Bowl.
But you can tell there is a different vibe this time, and with the Eagles and Cowboys both losing on Thursday, there is a massive opportunity to take command of the division with a win over Washington.
"We know it's an important one, in the division, and every game counts right now," Manning said. "It's going to be a deciding factor in how the season ends, so we understand that and we got to go out there and play good football."
It is a terrific opportunity for a quarterback who generally plays well when there's something on the line. It's also somewhat familiar ground for a quarterback who is so used to playing in the shadow of his older brother but who now represents the family name alone for only the second time in his career.
As Peyton tries to rehab from a foot injury that will keep him out at least another two games, Eli is the only Manning playing quarterback for the first time since 2011.
That's the year Peyton couldn't play because of a neck problem that required four surgical procedures. It's also the year Eli won his second Super Bowl title, capping the run with a win over the Patriots in Peyton's home stadium in Indianapolis.
The two speak regularly, and Eli is hoping for a quick recovery by his elder sibling.
"I've talked to him, but he's just trying to get healthy," Eli said.
Any advice, considering Eli had a similar injury he managed to play through in 2009?
"Just get healthy," he said.
Peyton Manning once was considered one of the NFL's ironmen during his heyday with the Colts, but now it's Eli with the longest active consecutive starting streak in the NFL. He'll be making his 178th straight regular-season start Sunday.
But Eli doesn't concern himself with that streak, preferring to simply look at it as the next game. The fact that the game will have added meaning is really what's important.
"It feels good to be in these circumstances and feel like you're playing for opportunities to make the playoffs and win your division," he said. "I think guys got to sense that excitement and make sure it shows in our preparation and our play."
Manning has enjoyed some of his better games at FedEx Field, having won seven of his last nine games there. Another strong performance Sunday, and Manning's Giants will be in firm control of their playoff destiny.
He doesn't plan to let this one get away.
Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”
