2012 NFL Playoffs : New York Giants QB Eli Manning Is Already Elite
NEW YORK, NY – Contrary to popular belief, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, is already an elite NFL quarterback.
Manning, who would lead the Giants to a 37-20 road victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round at Lambeau Field appears to have recaptured his clutch 2007 Super Bowl form.
Back in 2007, Manning would catch fire at the end of the Giant’s 2007-08 season and pass for 854 yards, throw six touchdowns and one interception en route to helping New York defeat the New England Patriots, 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.
At Green Bay, Manning would go pass for 330 yards and throw three touchdowns and silence his many critics in the media at the same time.
In defeating the Packers for the second time in four years on the road, Manning has elevated his play to such a level that he may be the hottest—and most dangerous quarterback not named Tom Brady—in the NFL playoffs.
Period.
During the Giant’s Super Bowl XLII run, Manning would rely on the likes of Plaxico Burress, David Tyree, Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Kevin Boss, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmed Bradshaw on offense.
With the exception of Jacobs and Bradshaw, the Giants have an entirely new—and more explosive offense—in Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and rookie tight end Jake Ballard.
Thanks to the fore-mentioned players, the 31-year old, two-time Pro Bowl eight-year veteran out of Ole Miss has set career highs in yards passing(4,933) yards per attempt(8.38) completions(359) and attempts(589).
Manning would also post his second-best marks in touchdowns(29) QB rating(92.9) and have his third best completion percentage of 61.0, his highest since 2008.
Manning would also see his interceptions drop from a career high of 25 in 2010 to 16, his third lowest since 2008, when he threw 10 and in 2009 where he would throw 14.
Long maligned in the media for forcing a draft-day trade with San Diego in 2004, which the Chargers would turn into Philip Rivers, Manning’s erratic inconsistency, which drove Big Blue fans into fits last year, has finally matured into the franchise big-name quarterback that the Giants have not had since Phil Simms.
Since taking over as the Giants starting quarterback full-time in 2005, Manning is 69-50 as a starter in the regular season, owns a franchise-best 6-3 record in the posteason, Manning has engineered 19 fourth quarter comebacks and 23 game-winning drives.
For his career, Manning has passed for 27,579 yards and 185 touchdowns, 129 interceptions and a QB rating of 82.1
Is it time to put Manning in the same company as his older brother Peyton, Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees?
With the exception of Big Ben, all of the other fore-mentioned signal-callers have all won a Super Bowl MVP, and like Brady, Brees, Big Ben, Rodgers and his big brother, has won a minimum of one championship.
All of this for a player that has played in a traditionally and historically conservative run-first franchise as the giants who have had three Hall-of-Famers under center such as Y.A Tittle, Charlie Conerly and Phil Simms.
Judging from his recent play against Atlanta and Green Bay, Manning deserves to be considered among the best as one cannot spell the word “elite” without E-L-I.
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