Manningham's return creates an arsenal
The Giants likely won't be able to afford Mario Manningham next season. (undated file photo) Credit: Getty Images
The trifecta finally is complete.
Mario Manningham is back at full strength and it couldn't have come at a better time for the Giants, who'll need every available body to contend with the high-flying Packers in Sunday's divisional playoff game.
"I feel like we have enough weapons to get it done," said the wide receiver, who hasn't felt this good in a long time. "I'm not going to say we have more, I'm not going to say we have less. I feel like we have the right people in the right places."
After weeks of being a receiver short during the regular season -- Hakeem Nicks missed the Week 9 matchup with the Patriots because of a hamstring injury and Manningham sat out four games because of a lingering knee issue -- offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has his full arsenal of weapons at his disposal.
"I think he's proven that he's made and is certainly capable of making some big plays for us," Gilbride said of Manningham, who was inactive against the Packers in their last meeting on Dec. 4. "Again, we'll see pretty quickly -- 'Here's what they're trying to do.' Then you'll know what you want to do. Then those opportunities are going to come, whether it's the run game or whether it's a different receiver than Victor [Cruz] or Hakeem. Maybe it's Jake [Ballard]. Maybe it's the backs. Who knows what it's going to be?
"Then when those opportunities arise, those guys are going to have to make plays for us."
Cruz and Nicks made a big splash in Manningham's absence, finishing with career-high receiving totals of 1,536 and 1,192 yards, respectively, during the regular season. But Manningham, who caught 39 passes for 523 yards in 12 games, made his presence felt in the wild-card win over the Falcons.
His 27-yard touchdown reception -- his first score since Dec. 11 against Dallas -- sealed the Giants' 24-2 victory over Atlanta and showed just how dangerous their wide receiver corps can be at full strength.
"They're aware of him," Tom Coughlin said of the Packers, who had the lowest-ranked defense in the NFL in the regular season. "He's not a surprise. But the way he's played makes you a little bit more aware. That's what you need. You have to have all of the weapons firing."
Said quarterback Eli Manning: "Mario just stretches the field. He is a guy who works the back side of the defense . . . and he gets the one-on-one matchups and he is just going to take advantage of that. And that is where he excels."
