Cowboys Extra: Spotlight on Giants quarterback Eli Manning
Height: 6-4 Weight: 218
Season: 11th College: Mississippi
Strengths: Manning has everything teams look for in a franchise quarterback, which is why he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2004. He has two Super Bowl titles, one more than his older brother Peyton, and two Super Bowl MVP awards. Manning has looked good in Ben McAdoo’s West Coast offense in the Giants’ three victories. In those three games, Manning has a 70.1 completion percentage for 734 yards with eight touchdown passes, one interception and a 115.2 passer rating. In the team’s three losses, Manning completed 60 percent of his passes for 591 yards with three touchdowns, four interceptions and a 70.9 passer rating.
Weaknesses: Manning will hold the ball too long at times. He has been sacked 13 times this season, including six by the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Manning also can be a turnover machine, taking too many chances with the football. He had 29 turnovers last season, including 27 interceptions. He has five turnovers this season, all interceptions, giving him 176 interceptions for his career. He will miss his favorite receiver, Victor Cruz.
Last game: He went 13 for 23 for 151 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in the Giants’ 27-0 loss to the Eagles on Sunday night.
Who has to stop him? The Cowboys have allowed two 300-yard passers this season and rank 12th in pass defense. Last week, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson went 14 of 28 for 126 yards with no touchdowns, an interception and a 47.6 passer rating. Starting cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Orlando Scandrick have combined to allow only 28 receptions on 47 targets for 402 yards and a touchdown, according to STATS. Nickelback Sterling Moore has allowed 13 receptions for 201 yards and a touchdown. The three have defensed 16 passes.
Notable: Manning has started 157 consecutive games, plus 11 postseason games. That is the third-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history behind Brett Favre (297) and Peyton Manning (208). ... Eli Manning’s streak of 157 consecutive starts is the longest active by any player at any position. ... Manning is on track to set a career best in completion percentage. He has completed 65.1 percent of his passes this season. He completed 62.9 in 2010, his best for a season. ... In 20 career games against the Cowboys, including the postseason, Manning has an 11-9 record with a 60.5 completion percentage, 5,044 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and a 90.5 passer rating.
— Charean Williams
This story was originally published October 14, 2014 at 7:57 PM with the headline "Cowboys Extra: Spotlight on Giants quarterback Eli Manning ."