The New York Giants are steadily looking toward the future after another dismal season, but quarterback Eli Manning will get another shot at seeing the field Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.
As rookie quarterback Daniel Jones deals with an ankle injury that is expected to keep him out of the primetime matchup, Manning will be the one leading the offense again for the first time since Week 2.
His former teammate and Giants legend Michael Strahan doesn’t believe the two-time Super Bowl champion has anything to prove in his spot start on Monday night.
“I don’t think Eli has anything to prove to me or you or anybody else. I mean, the Super Bowls speak for themselves,” said Strahan ahead of Thursday Night Football on FOX. “It’s unfortunate the way the season has gone for him, and if this is the way he has to get back in the game, so be it, it’s just what the nature of this game is with injuries. But, yeah, I know what he can do, I just hope he does it well.”
Strahan is correct in his sentiments about Manning. The Giants are headed for a top-three pick in the 2020 NFL draft, and the front office has made it clear they hope Jones is the future of the franchise.
But Manning has accomplished more in his 16-year career than most could even dream about. He led the Giants to two Super Bowl championships in the span of five years—earning the MVP on the biggest stage possible both times.
Manning has been the epitome of what a quarterback should be both on and off the field. Sure, he has had his struggles and bone-headed mistakes. But he led the organization with class and leadership while navigating a market that makes it nearly impossible.
As the organization’s leader in most passing categories, Strahan is simply hoping the team does enough for the 37-year-old to get a win—potentially one final time.
“I know what he can do, I just want him to be at the best he can be,” said Strahan. “I want the guys who are around him to give him the best opportunity to win this game.”
While Manning leads the offense against the division-rival Eagles, the defense will look to show any semblance of improvement in the final four weeks of the season.
Once a perennial leader on that side of the ball, Strahan doesn’t see the unit possessing any indication there are many impact players throughout the defense.
“Right now they don’t have any one player who I’d say, OK, the other team’s got to come in saying, ‘We have to focus on this guy or he’s going to rip us apart.’ They don’t have that,” said Strahan.
With the Giants looking toward the offseason already, Manning will look to lead the offense enough to grab what could be the final win of his career.