With the New York Giants falling 24-14 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, their efforts were thwarted by two costly interceptions from Eli Manning.
Like the saying goes, there’s good Eli Manning, and then there’s bad Eli Manning. During the New York Giants 24-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the “Jekyll and Hyde” sides of the long-time signal caller were on display.Twice Manning did an excellent job of putting the Giants’ offense in a position to score, only to kill the drive with a heart-wrenchingly avoidable interception. What possibly stings the most for the Giants is that both targets of the picks were open for would-be touchdowns, but Manning’s ball placement cost the team crucial points.
The Second Quarter Interception
Manning’s first pick of the day came following an impressive drive that started on New York’s own 29-yard line and stretched all the way into the red zone. The veteran threw for 47 yards on the drive, placing the Giants in a 2nd & 4 situation on the Pittsburgh nine-yard line at the time of the miscue.On this play, Manning is looking to get it to tight end Larry Donnell on a seam route. There’s late pressure coming from his blind side by defensive end Leterrius Walton, but it doesn’t seem to affect his decision. Manning knew he wanted to get the ball to Donnell on this route, as it was his first read on the play.
After seeing his tight end, he looks toward the left side of the field to try to move the safety a little more away from Donnell, widening his throwing window in the process. Once Manning feels he’s looked off the safety enough, he turns back to Donnell and fires a dart towards him.
The problem was Manning seemed to never have noticed middle linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who had moved toward Donnell prior to the throw. Initially Timmons drops straight back into the middle of the field, but once he sees Donnell break his route back inside, he moves toward him in coverage.
Manning seems to never realize this, thinking he has an open throwing lane, so he doesn’t put any air underneath the pass. Timmons then undercuts the throw and comes away with the interception.
This play is an obvious, consistently favorite call of head coach Ben McAdoo. On mid-yardage passing situations in the red zone, the tight end seam route has been a go-to for the Giants since McAdoo first took over as offensive coordinator two years ago.
Against the San Francisco 49ers last season, the Giants won on a touchdown to Donnell on the same route, only to the opposite side of the field. In a 2014 game against the Washington Redskins, Donnell produced a huge three touchdown breakout game, with two of the scores coming off that same seam route.
This isn’t the first time Manning has been picked off in 2016 while trying to make this throw. Poor ball placement turned what could have been a Will Tye touchdown into a Redskins’ interception during Week 3. With so much film on the Giants running this route in similar situations, a ten-year wily veteran like Timmons knew what was coming when he saw Donnell coming back toward the middle of the end zone.
Had Manning seen Timmons, it would have been a difficult, albeit doable throw. Timmons just barely hauls in the pick over his head, but had Manning floated it just a tad higher, the result could have been a touchdown. Donnell had inside position on the safety and the extra time the higher pass would have taken to reach him would likely have not mattered.
The Game Sealing Interception
Rookie cornerback Eli Apple‘s first career interception gave the Giants’ offense great field position with a chance to cut their deficit to one score early in the fourth quarter. However, after New York crossed into Steelers’ territory, their drive started to stall.On their second set of downs, the Giants offense gained just two yards – which were ultimately lost due to an Ereck Flowers false start. Facing a 4th & 13 situation, Manning took a shot deep to a wide open Sterling Shepard in the end zone.
Pressure from pass rusher Bud Dupree flushed Manning from the pocket. After being forced to roll out to his right, Manning finds Shepard open in the end zone, but rushes the throw to him.
Rather than setting his feet and throwing, Manning makes the pass on the run, resulting in an under-thrown ball. Shepard has no chance to make the catch and Steelers’ corner Sean Davis makes his own first career interception with ease.
Manning has struggled all season connecting with his receivers on the deep ball. Big Blue has left a lot of points on the board due to his inaccuracies when airing it.
Trying to make this throw while still moving only made matters worse, and the result killed any chances of a Giants’ comeback in the game. A seasoned veteran like Manning shouldn’t be making ill-advised mistakes like this.
Manning Needs To Come Up Big
The Giants’ offense is floundering and it needs its quarterback to play better if they are to have any hopes of righting the ship. The Manning led-offense currently ranks 26th in the league in yards per game (327.4) and 24th in points per game (20.4).While their defense has been exceptional this season, the Giants have not taken care of business on the other side of the football. Blown plays, lack of targets to specific receivers, and turnovers have made this offense lackluster and predictable.
Manning needs to take advantage of the first solid defense he’s had in years and start putting it together. The Giants haven’t locked up a playoff spot yet, and have no more easy games ahead to look forward to for a gimme-win. It will be a battle for a playoff slot – a challenge the Giants need their former Pro Bowl QB to rise up to.
Manning has been excellent at times this season, but has had difficulty finishing when it matters most. A struggling offensive line hasn’t helped, but regardless, Manning cannot keep missing on critical drives. If New York is to prove they are true playoff contenders, Manning will have to rediscover that clutch gene that made him a two-time Super Bowl Champion and MVP.
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