Eli finally gets first home playoff win
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning smiles as he walks off the field after his victory against the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife stadium. (Jan. 8, 2012) Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Eli Manning cut through the thicket of television cameras, briefly stopping among the fans' piercing screams so he could hand a lucky fan his towel for a keepsake.
Manning shook general manager Jerry Reese's hand before entering a victorious locker room, something he hadn't been able to do after a home playoff game. Despite all his accolades, the Super Bowl XLII MVP had that one flaw on his resume: five interceptions and averaging only 141 yards in two home playoff games. But Sunday, he played well in the Giants' 24-2 wild-card win over the Falcons.
"He was amazing, man," wide receiver Victor Cruz said. "He knew everything that was coming and he just made the right reads. He made some really great throws out there today.''
Manning was 23-for-32 for 277 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a rating of 129.3. He warmed up in the second half, completing 13 of 18 for 217 yards and two TDs. He spread the ball around, connecting with eight receivers. His lone negative was for intentional grounding in the end zone, a safety that handed Atlanta its only points.
"We feel good," Manning said, "and I feel good back there saying, 'Hey, I'm just reading the coverage, I'm going through my progressions and whoever my read is telling me to throw the ball to, that's who I'm going to throw it to.' "
The 23 completions and three scoring passes were postseason highs for Manning. The 72-yard hookup with Hakeem Nicks was Manning's fifth TD of more than 70 yards this season.
"I think guys have a great understanding of what our offense is, what their responsibilities are," Manning said. "If we can get that run game going like we did in that second half, that opens up a lot of windows.''
Manning made one of the game's key plays with his feet late in the first half. On third-and-2 at his 23, he scrambled 14 yards to keep a 13-play, 85-yard drive alive. He hit Nicks on a 4-yard slant for a 7-2 lead.
"That was instrumental when he pulled that down," Tom Coughlin said, "because we were struggling to make a first down. The timing of the play was outstanding."
Guard Chris Snee cracked: "Maybe he is a little more athletic than I initially gave him credit for."
Now Manning finally can get credit for something else: a home postseason victory.
"At the end of the year, will it be special for him?" tackle Kareem McKenzie asked. "Yeah, but now I think guys are going to take this with a grain of salt and get ready for the next one."
