SAN DIEGO — The Giants have Eli Manning and the Super Bowl hardware to validate that infamous draft-day quarterback swap they made with the Chargers a decade ago when they sent Philip Rivers to San Diego and got their coveted Mann.
But, oh how Rivers, the Chargers and their fans had some fun Sunday at the expense of Manning, who 10 years ago gave San Diego the figurative “Heisman’’ pose when he told them not to draft him with the No. 1 overall pick, immediately stamping himself as a Public Enemy No. 1.
So for one glorious, sunny San Diego Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, the Chargers humiliated Manning and the Giants 37-14 and put an official end to those flickering playoff hopes the visitors had been clinging and all “Stay Classy, San Diego’’ rules were suspended.
Chargers fans booed Manning mercilessly from the moment he appeared on the field for pregame warm-ups to the moment he ambled off the field and disappeared into the tunnel. Derisive, unprintable chants sprang up all over the stadium. In the back of one end zone, there was a huge poster with Manning’s face superimposed into a blonde wig, with Twitter people quickly labeling it, “She-li.’’
Manning’s poor performance played right into the hands of his haters.
“Fans have never affected my play,’’ Manning said after the game.
Maybe not, but it was Rivers, not Manning, who looked in command, completing 21-of-28 passes for 249 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 137.4 rating. Manning’s stats — 20-of-32 for 259 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a 72.3 rating — were misleading, because a lot of those yards came in second-half garbage time and on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half.
“I think that’s more for you all and fans, I guess,’’ Rivers said when asked if he drew any added satisfaction beating Manning and the Giants. “I know that’s a sidebar story, but I’ve never felt like it’s me versus him.’’
Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe it’s karma or maybe it’s a curse, but Manning is 0-for-San Diego in his career against the Chargers, including 0-2 in his two games against Rivers.
“Obviously, I played here twice and haven’t had success either time,’’ Manning said. “I don’t know if I’ll get another opportunity or not.’’
What Manning will not have the opportunity to do is play in the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years. And, while hardly alone, he and his NFL-high 20 interceptions are as big a reason as any for his team being 5-8 and playing out the string.
This is the first time since 2004 the Giants will not be at least mathematically alive for the playoffs into the final week of the season.
“It’s been a struggle a little bit for [Manning] this year, but I know he won’t ever stop fighting,’’ defensive end Justin Tuck said. “We won’t lose hope, we won’t lose faith that we have a potent offense led by one of the best quarterbacks in this league.’’
That best quarterback killed an early momentum chance when he threw an interception one play after he connected with receiver Hakeem Nicks on a 51-yard pass play. Nicks, who’s still seeking is first touchdown reception of the season, has been so invisible he’s one step short of having his picture posted on a milk carton as a missing person, so this qualified as a potential big moment.
The moment, though, was ruined when Manning, trying to force a pass in to Rueben Randle, was picked off by linebacker Donald Butler, who returned it 30 yards, and three plays later the Chargers took a 7-0 lead and never looked back.
“Yeah, I had some opportunities,’’ Manning said. “The interception was a little behind Rueben and I missed Hakeem behind him a little. We definitely had some chances early on. I wish I could have made some better throws.’’
If you were unaware of the two Super Bowl trophies sitting safely behind the glass inside the lobby of the Giants offices that Manning helped acquire, after watching the goings on Sunday you might be inclined to think San Diego got the better of that draft-day deal.
“It’s been tough,’’ Manning said of Sunday and the season.
“This,’’ Giants coach Tom Coughlin said, “is no fun for anybody.’’