So, what happens after the heartfelt ovation for Eli Manning, after someone in the stands yells “Give ’em hell, Spags,” and after all those fans who backed off on their plan to protest or hire a plane to haul a banner containing a derisive message settle into their seats Sunday at MetLife Stadium?

What happens if Orleans Darkwa gains two yards on first down, Manning hits Evan Engram for five yards and then, on third down, Manning is forced to make a hurried throw as the offensive line crumbles and the ball falls at the feet of Shane Vereen?

Ben McAdoo is gone. Jerry Reese is gone. Sadly, the 2017 New York Giants remain.

Perhaps the much-anticipated firings of the head coach and general manager provide a brief spark to what has been a lifeless team. Maybe the message of unity and playing for all Giants, present and past, imparted this week by Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator elevated to interim head coach status, resonates with players who were largely unresponsive to anything the past three months. It could be that the presence of the Cowboys, an NFC East rival on playoff-contention life-support, motivates these Giants.

Or it could be more of the same, with a new man in charge. Spagnuolo takes over a battered team, with backups and players recently unemployed not only on the roster, but manning key spots on the field.

Manning, after last week’s unfortunate end to his 210-game consecutive starting streak, returns to the huddle for what could be his final four games with the Giants. Before he was sent to the bench, Manning and his offense was dreadful in a loss to the Redskins.

Geno Smith was decent in a 24-17 loss to the Raiders and pushed to the side not because of his performance, but to right a wrong, with Spagnuolo saying his “gut’’ tells him Manning gives the Giants the best chance to win — though the Giants were 2-9 with Manning calling the shots.

Once again, rookie Davis Webb will not play, and it will be a real shame if the Giants bungle this one and never see this young quarterback in a real game down the stretch of the season.

The good-will manufactured by ownership’s dismissal of McAdoo and Reese will last only so long with paying customers, who will have to confront the indignity of seeing swaths of Cowboys-clad fans invading the Meadowlands.

“Well, we’re going to compete, we’re going to work hard, we’re trying to go beat the Dallas Cowboys,’’ Manning said. “I appreciate all the support that the fans have given me this past week, it’s been overwhelming. And I appreciate them so much for all the texts, the letters, the way they expressed their appreciation for me, so I’d appreciate it if they came out on Sunday and cheered the team on.’’

They will be there. How long they cheer their team on? Well, that depends on how much, if at all, Manning and his teammates give them anything to cheer for.

Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence vs. Giants RT Bobby Hart

“Mismatch’’ is more appropriate here than “marquee.’’ It seems like it was so long ago when Lawrence was ravaging the Giants in the season opener — registering two sacks, three tackles for loss and two quarterback hits. The production came mostly against Hart in what was a miserable start to 2017. Lawrence was particularly effective with line twists that confounded Hart and the right guard, John Jerry.

It looks as if Justin Pugh might not play again this season dealing with back issues, meaning Hart gets a chance to end to perhaps salvage something in what was a brutal season for him. Hart lost his starting job, first to Pugh then to undrafted rookie Chad Wheeler, who was forced out in Oakland with a concussion.

Lawrence is having a career year. He had eight sacks in 2015 but only one in 2016. Lawrence currently leads the NFL in sacks with 13.5, just ahead of Chandler Jones of the Cardinals with 13. It will not be a very welcome back for Eli Manning if Lawrence is the backfield play after play.

Blame game: Throughout this horrid season, players repeatedly stressed they were the ones messing up, not coach Ben McAdoo. Since his dismissal, there has been some, but not much, sentiment expressing disgust that the performance on the field got McAdoo whacked. There was this from punter Brad Wing: “I feel like everybody should and they do feel like they had some kind of responsibility in why the season is going the way it is. It’s not just one man’s fault why we are two and whatever we are. It’s a collective effort and guys should not shy away from the responsibility.’’

Landon Collins, always accountable, said, “Yeah, it’s definitely on us. Not playing good defense. Not playing good offense. All three phases were down. We were not doing what we were doing last year and something had to change I guess.’’

There was also this from safety Andrew Adams, when asked if he felt the players on the team let McAdoo down. “Me, personally, I don’t have an answer to that question.’’

Getting defensive: This is a real rarity in that interim coach Steve Spagnuolo’s expertise is defense. The past five Giants head coaches — Ray Handley, Dan Reeves, Jim Fassel, Tom Coughlin and Ben McAdoo – all were products of the offensive side of the ball, a trail that goes back 26 years. The last Giants coach with a pedigree on defense was Bill Parcells, who left in 1990.

“Yeah, tables have turned because we had McAdoo as our offensive coordinator,’’ offensive lineman Justin Pugh said. “Then he became the head coach, and now the defensive coordinator becomes the head coach.’’

Jason knows: The Cowboys were 1-7 in 2010 when Wade Phillips was fired, and Jason Garrett, the offensive coordinator, was named the interim head coach. Garrett knows exactly what Spagnuolo and the Giants are going through.

“It was a collective challenge,’’ Garrett recalled. “We had to somehow, someway, process what had happened and then get our sights set on a ball game that we were going to play in six days.’’

Garrett’s first game was at MetLife Stadium, and he beat the Giants, who were riding a five-game winning streak, 33-20. Spagnuolo is friends with Garrett and briefly considered calling him up for some advice.

“I didn’t really think he would give any good suggestions,’’ Spagnuolo said.

Back in the saddle: It was, quite simply, bizarre. Seeing Geno Smith play and Eli Manning sit made guys who won Super Bowls with Manning almost physically ill.

“I thought it was B.S.,’’ former Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said. Now Manning regains his starting job and current players are relieved.

“Eli’s somebody a lot of us first-team guys have been going with since we got here,’’ said receiver Sterling Shepard, dealing with a hamstring issue. “Just to change it in the middle of the season was a little wrench thrown in there but we’re glad to have him back.’’

Cowboys snapped a three-game losing streak last week but remain without suspended RB Ezekiel Elliott, and at 6-6 probably need to win-out for any shot to make the playoffs. The role of spoiler does not seem to be a great motivating factor for the Giants. Can they make QB Dak Prescott sweat? Big win would be nice one for the Eli Manning résumé, but wishing does not make it so.

Cowboys 24, Giants 16