PHILADELPHIA — They watched. Of course they did.
Eli Manning’s existence with the Giants, in the hearts and minds of those on the team now and the past few years, was singular and steadfast. He was the starting quarterback, and every fiber of his being was connected to that role and that identity. It is what he was, period.
And then he was not. Amid the shock, there was mystery mixed into The Benching, back in Week 3 this season. Seeing rookie Daniel Jones as the starter was far less jarring than contemplating Eli Manning as the backup. How would he act? What would he do? What does this look like?
The expectations were Manning’s professionalism would kick in, and, indeed, it did. His teammates, some 16 years younger than him, turned into Eli Observers. A franchise icon and two-time Super Bowl MVP now working the scout team during the week and standing on the sideline on game days? There was all sorts of curiosity how this would play out.
The way it played out actually raised Manning’s standing among his teammates.
“He’s still the same dude,’’ center Jon Halapio said. “He’s never too high, never too low, just been consistent with his mood, consistent with his preparation. He still had conversations with us all as if he was still the starter. He’s also helped DJ every week.
“He still prepares the same way. He’s the same teammate. He still does everything the coaches ask from him, every day, whether it’s take the snaps with the ones or doing scout team reps. That’s why everybody loves Eli, man.’’
The day Manning was exiled to the sideline, coach Pat Shurmur attempted to make nice with the player he benched, saying, “Here’s a guy that knows what he’s doing, knows our offense, and if we have one ankle injury, he’s in there.’’
He’s in there, again. Jones came out of the 31-13 loss to the Packers with a right high ankle sprain, and just like that, Manning takes hold of the keys to the offense for a Monday Night Football meeting with the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. This start no one saw coming arrives 26 days before Manning turns 39. The Giants have lost eight straight games; the Eagles are on a three-game skid.
There is symmetry to this, as it was in Philadelphia on Sept. 12, 2004, when Manning threw his first NFL pass, asked to mop up for Kurt Warner in a season-opening, 31-17 loss. Manning went 3 of 9 for 66 yards and nearly met his maker when he turned the wrong way in a collapsing pocket and was obliterated by Jerome McDougle, a nasty defensive end with bad intentions.
There is symmetry to this, as Manning learned he would be starting again almost exactly two years to the day — Dec. 3, 2017 — after he opted not to accept coach Ben McAdoo’s offer to keep his starting streak alive and was benched for a game in Oakland, ending his streak of 210 consecutive starts. The next day, McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese were fired.
There is symmetry to this, as the Giants were 2-10 when the plug was pulled on Manning for that one game in 2017 and currently stand at 2-10 as they dust off their franchise icon for a final roundup.
There is symmetry to this, as Monday is the one-year anniversary of Manning’s last start and victory: Dec. 9, 2018, 40-16 over the Redskins. As far as the past few dreary years, that was a rarity for Manning and the Giants, as he threw three touchdown passes and compiled a passer rating of 132.0 in a blowout victory.
This will be Manning’s 233rd regular-season start, his 30th against the Eagles and his 21st and almost definitely last Monday Night Football start. The last time he was on the field, Manning on Sept. 15 completed 26 of 45 passes for 250 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 28-14 home loss to the Bills.
There will be rust. How can there not be?
“Physically I feel good,’’ Manning said. “I’ve had time to get extra workouts and do those things just to stay in shape, so you’re not banged up. I feel fresh and ready to go.’’
