Eli Manning Finally Settling Down

This season Eli Manning is off to his best and most steady start of his career. I am not sure if it is the freedom he has in the passing game now that Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer are gone. Or if it is a sign that Manning is turning the corner in his career that a lot of people have been waiting for.

It became obvious after the New York Giants lost to the New England Patriots in week 17 of the 2007 season that Eli Manning with the support and confidence of the team,  was starting to get on the right track. Then once the Giants made their storied run to a Super Bowl victory,  Mannings growth had become more evident.

Last season Manning started off the season very strong and the Giants looked good but once they lost Burress for the season the team was not able to rebound the way they wanted to. Manning and the Giants suffered a devastating loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs. In that loss Manning and the offense looked anything but like the team from the season before that won the Super Bowl.

Over the past few seasons as the Giants offense has lost Tiki Barber in '06 (retirement), Jeremy Shockey in '07 (trade), and Plaice Burress in '08 (prison) they have been able to persevere and move on. And each time they have had to move on without a key player Eli Manning has looked better each season as a quarterback. This season has not been any different.

I really believe the Giants passing game is flourishing due to teams coming up to stop the Giants running game which was the best in the NFL last season and currently 4th in the league.  Also now teams can't predict who Manning will throw the ball to. Steve Smith has emerged as the number one target and Eli's go to guy.  But if teams try to take him away he has young reliable options with  Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks who have also not been shy to get in the end zone.

It will be a great battle on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints defense that leads the league with 13 takewaway.s and are ranked 11th in the NFL.

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