BALTIMORE – As he came off the field, Eli Manning knew he had just lost a game and, moments later, learned he has not lost his job. But he knew he indeed was in the process of losing something even more valuable.
“I got to get my teammates back trusting me that I can go in there and play and start doing things to put us in a situation to win,” Manning said. “I haven’t proved anything to ’em.”
Without the trust of those around him, a quarterback has no chance to succeed. While none of the Giants yesterday swore off the prize rookie, it is impossible for anyone to glean anything positive out of what Manning has given the franchise as it feebly staggers to another embarrassing end of a season.
Each start for Manning is worse than the last and it is almost inconceivable to imagine anything more unsightly than his performance in yesterday’s terrible 37-14 loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Tom Coughlin took mercy and finally benched Manning with 6:07 remaining, the Giants trailing 37-7, watched as Kurt Warner did more in a few minutes than Manning did in nearly a month and promptly informed the team that he’s sticking with the rookie for Saturday’s mismatch against the Steelers.
“I certainly didn’t expect this day,” Coughlin said. “Unfortunately sometimes there are days like this when you’re a young guy trying to figure it out.”
For the second straight game, Manning produced no points as the Giants (5-8) lost their sixth consecutive game. He was 4-of-18 for 27 yards, threw two interceptions and lost one fumble. His quarterback rating: 0.00.
“Even though you’re learning the hard way you’re still learning out there,” Manning said. “I knew it was gonna be tough . . . [but] I didn’t expect it to go this way.”
Warner (6-of-9, 127 yards) finished up strongly, leading the Giants to their lone offensive touchdown, and, given Manning’s difficulties, it seems implausible that Warner does not give the team its best chance to win. Coughlin, though, in a rare move punctuated his post-game message to the players by stating Manning will remain the starter.
“I think it was the right decision and what needed to be done,” said Warner, who has gained admirers for the way he’s handled his demotion. “I agree with it 100 percent.”
This whole mess can’t be pinned on Manning. Rookie Derrick Ward fumbled away the opening kickoff, the first of a season-high six turnovers. Tiki Barber lost his first two fumbles of the season and the defense, put in near-impossible situations, was shredded by Kyle Boller, who threw a career-high four touchdown passes, two apiece to Todd Heap and Clarence Moore.
This must have been quite satisfying for Jim Fassel, patrolling the Ravens sideline as a consultant. The Giants cost him his job a year ago with an eight-game losing streak and it is plausible that Coughlin will lose nine straight to close out his debut season.
Ward’s fumble put the Ravens on the Giants 27-yard line, making it easy for Boller to get his first scoring pass. Barber fumbled on the next possession and it was soon 10-0. Manning badly under-threw Amani Toomer on a bomb and cornerback Gary Baxter had an easy interception. The Ravens led 17-0 before defensive end Osi Umenyiora provided a flicker of light for the Giants on a 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
The Ravens responded with 10 points in the final 27 second of the first half – helped by another Manning interception – and the rout was on.
Is Manning overmatched?
“You can’t argue the opposite,” Barber said. “But we knew he was gonna go through it. We’re determined to stick with it and see how it pans out. Right now it’s hard on all of us.”
