Mark Cannizzaro

Mark Cannizzaro

NFL

Eli has to step up for Giants to complete miracle playoff run

The gods have done their part for the Giants, delivering four of the NFL’s weakest opposing quarterbacks to them in their last three games — not coincidentally all Giants’ victories.

Indeed, the Giants and their fans give thanks to Minnesota’s ill-prepared Josh Freeman, Philadelphia’s hamstrung Michael Vick and inexperienced Matt Barkley and Oakland’s gimpy Terrelle Pryor — hardly what you would describe as power brokers among the league’s elite signal callers.

Determined coach Tom Coughlin has done his part, keeping the team together during the darkest moments of their 0-6 start and maintaining their belief they can still make something of this season.

The Giants defense also has done its part, keeping the last three opponents out of the end zone, save for one touchdown allowed — on a 5-yard drive, thanks to Jerrel Jernigan’s fumble of the opening kickoff Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Now it is Eli Manning’s turn.

As we all know and appreciate, Eli has done his share of carrying the team throughout his career. You can start with his two Super Bowl MVP awards and go from there. But the fact is: During the Giants’ three-game winning streak that has lifted them from the abyss of 0-6 to 3-6 with plausible hope, Eli has been more of a liability than an asset.

Except for one crisp, up-tempo offensive series in the second quarter of Sunday’s 24-20 win over the Raiders, Manning looked like Mark Sanchez. He was a game manager as Coughlin dialed up 30 carries for Andre Brown and essentially played like he preferred Manning stay out of the way, even calling for a handoff to Peyton Hillis with about 30 seconds left in the half — instead of trying to get into field-goal position when the Giants had a first-and-10 at their 31 with two timeouts in hand.

The pick-six Manning threw right into the hands of Raiders cornerback Tracy Porter for a 17-14 Oakland late in the second quarter was his third such game-changer of the season.

Manning leads the NFL with 16 interceptions, and the only game this season in which he has thrown more touchdowns than interceptions was the season opener in Dallas, when he threw four TDs and had three picks.

But if the Giants are going to keep this potentially historic comeback from 0-6 to a playoff berth alive, they are going to need Eli to return to, well, playing like Eli.

Even in winning these last three weeks, Manning has not looked right.

The Giants beat the Raiders almost in spite of Manning, who completed 12-of-22 attempts for 140 yards, one touchdown and the pick-six.

“I’m worried about getting wins,’’ Eli said when asked about his play not being what it used to be. “Sometimes you’ve got to fight. Things weren’t easy for us, but we were able to put together a couple of good drives when we needed to and get some points.’’

If the Giants are going to make history and take this improbable ride into the playoffs, they will need more points and more Eli being Eli again.

On Sunday against the Raiders, that one series when Eli looked like Eli came on a second-quarter scoring drive that gave the Giants a 14-10 lead. He connected with Victor Cruz for 14 yards, then Rueben Randle for 20, then Hakeem Nicks for 13 and 5, and finally Randle on a 5-yard fade in the end zone for the lead.

He was 5-for-6 for 57 yards on that drive. But that was about it, though.

On the next Giants possession, Manning telegraphed a pass right to Porter, who returned it 43 yards for the 17-14 Raiders lead. The pass was intended for Cruz, who was so stunned Manning even threw the ball his way, threw up his arms as if to say, “What were you thinking?’’

The Giants can get away with dispatching the woeful Vikings with Freeman starting on two days’ practice with the team, the Eagles with an injured Vick and his inexperienced rookie backup Barkley and with Pryor hobbled by a knee injury nullifying his running ability. They might even get away with beating the Packers on Sunday at home without Aaron Rodgers behind center.

They will not, however, beat the Cowboys and Tony Romo (Nov. 24), the Redskins and Robert Griffin III (Dec. 1 and Dec. 29), the Chargers and Philip Rivers (Dec. 8) and the Lions and Matthew Stafford (Dec. 22) without Eli being Eli again.