A Tangled Webb

Dear Giants Brass, We know you feel like you made a mistake in benching Eli Manning. After all, he’s not only a Manning, he’s OUR Manning. Winner of two Super Bowls and countless golly-shucks grins. But just a couple of weeks ago, that grin became a grimace. The face of the Giants had a face edged with tears. He had been unmercifully benched after 210 straight starts for a retread QB that was cut by those same old Jets.

- Tom Mackie

Of course, you knew all about it. You told Ben and Jerry after a 2-9 record that it was time to play the other QBs to see what you had. The disconnect, however, was that you didn’t want to sub Manning for your rookie 3rd-round pick, Davis Webb, the possible heir apparent. You were subbing old “rELIable” for perpetually subpar Geno Smith, as Webb remained in his street clothes. Then you were shocked when the fans and the media revolted as if you had sat Derek Jeter on Derek Jeter Day.

Still, even though Smith played decently going 21 of 34 for 212 yards a TD, but came up short in a 2417 loss to the Raiders, you got the fans and the surprisingly sensitive media back on your side by firing Ben and Jerry. You then turned around and reinserted Eli back into the starting lineup. The only problem was you found yourself back where you started. Wearing cool white throwback threads against the Cowboys, Eli led the Giants to 10 points in the first half. Unfortunately, he came up empty in the second half with two 4th-quarter picks and zippo points. He finished with 228 yards passing and a 71.3 rating. Meanwhile, Dallas QB Dak Prescott threw for 332 yards, 3 TDs, 0 interceptions and doubled Manning’s output with a near-perfect 143.1 rating.