Dan Pompei

The link between Eli Manning finding consistency and the Giants finding their groove is undeniable.

Manning’s recent streak of smart football is the most significant reason the Giants are playing in the Super Bowl. For the Giants, the playoff run started with their last regular-season game against the Patriots.

If Manning had played the way he did in September, the Giants probably would have been one and done. Then maybe now we’d be discussing how Chucky got lucky. Manning threw five interceptions in the first month of the season, compared to one in his last four games.

If Manning had played the way he did in October, someone else would have had to have stepped up on the Giants in order for them to be in the Super Bowl. His average yards gained per attempt that month was 5.9, compared with 7.3 in his last four games.

If Manning had played the way he did in November, Giants fans would be calling for his head now instead of trying to crown it. Manning’s passer rating that month was 66, compared to 105 over his last five games.

If Manning had played the way he did in December before the Patriots game, the Giants would be warming up their big screen plasmas for Sunday’s game instead of loosening up their quads and hams. In the Giants’ December games before the season closer, he completed 46 percent of his passes. In his last four games he has completed 64 percent.

If the hearts beneath their jersey numbers told the true story, it would have been that the Giants were going into the playoffs hoping Manning wouldn’t lose the game. Not only didn’t he lose games, but he has` won them.

What happened?  If you didn’t know better, you’d swear it was Peyton leading the Giants instead of Eli.

“It’s like one of the things you hear about those Hollywood stars who are overnight sensations, and then when you get the story you realize that they’ve been doing it for eight or nine years,” Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride says. “It’s the same way with him.  His work ethic has never changed.  He’s been plugging along.  His efforts at being completely prepared, knowing exactly what we’re trying to do and understanding what the defenses are going to do have been exemplary.  It hasn’t always been reflected that way on gameday. 

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“The only thing I can say is that sometimes we haven’t always helped him as much as he’s helped everybody else…. I think what’s happening now is not only is he playing better, but the guys around him are raising their level of performance, so that it has collectively turned into a situation where we’re playing pretty well as a unit.”

Gilbride says the biggest difference with Manning over the last five weeks has been his decision making. Gilbride said Manning has not made a single bad decision.

Giants left tackle Dave Diehl notes how Manning has managed the offense better. “We’re coming to the sidelines, he’s making sure we change things and making the adjustments we need to be effective,” Diehl said. “He’s making great audibles and checks at the line based on fronts. That’s the way you win football games.”

Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has watched Manning from afar after playing him twice in the regular season. He has noticed that Manning is operating with more confidence. “It doesn’t seem like anything can rattle him,” Johnson said. “He’s getting the ball out, not holding the ball much, getting rid of it if he is in trouble, throwing it away. He’s just playing with a lot of confidence.”

Funny how a little success can do that for a quarterback.

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