Eli Manning Shines Again, Phillip Rivers Flops Again

With the first pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Eli Manning. The Chargers decide later that they would rather Phillip Rivers, who was picked by the New York Giants. The two players were traded that day. Today, Manning (without his starting running back and leading wide receiver) proved once again why the Giants have been and still are the clear winners in this trade. Manning has the ring to prove it and led his team on amazing comeback in Foxborough to beat the Patriots once again.

The Patriots led 13-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Manning found Mario Manningham for the touchdown to put the Giants up 17-13. Tom Brady had the answer though hitting Ron Gronkowski for the 14 yard score. Pats lead 20-17 with 1:36 left. Eli Manning gets the ball on his 20. What does he do? He leads his team on a game-winning drive, capping it off with 1 yard pass to tight end Jake Ballard. The Giants now remain in control of the NFC East, with a solid 6-2 record (How did this team manage to lose at home to the Seahawks?).

Philip Rivers was coming off a performance where he basically single-handily lost the game on MNF last week (My take on that game is linked below.). How does he respond to start this game? He throws two pick-sixes in the first quarter! Are you kidding me? Despite Aaron Rodgers' stellar play, the Chargers somehow remain it. In the fourth quarter, Rivers completed two touchdown passes to wide receiver Vincent Jackson. The Packers lead is trimmed to 45-38 with 6:25 left in the game. The Chargers get the ball back with 1:05 remaining. They have a chance to tie it up. Chargers tight end Antonio Gates makes a big catch and then draws a pass interference call moments later. Two plays after, Rivers drops back to pass and throws his third interception of the game. The Packers take a knee and remain undefeated. All of the top three teams in the AFC West lost, so they now all remain tied for the division lead with abysmal 4-4 records.

People were ridiculing Eli Manning last year when he threw a career high 25 interceptions. Rivers has thrown 7 in his last 3 games this year. He has 14 total on the season through 8 games. As far as I can tell, Eli Manning is clearly a better quarterback than Philip Rivers. He has history, a Super Bowl ring, and his current play to prove it.

New York Daily News article (February 2008) discussing the fall out from the Manning-Rivers trade: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-02-10/sports/17891084_1_eli-manning-nick-kaeding-ernie-accorsi

My take on Philip Rivers' meltdown last week on MNF: http://fireawayblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/rivers-late-fumble-treats-chiefs-to.html