ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer talks about Eli Manning and the Giants playoff hopes with the Post’s Justin Terranova. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback also challenges anyone that would argue with him about Mark Sanchez being the fourth best quarterback in the AFC.
Q: How can the Giants move the ball without Steve Smith and now Hakeem Nicks on Sunday?
A:
Everyone thinks when you lose a receiver you have to run the ball more. I think you have to pass it more on early downs, the tick-and-tack type stuff. If you get in the run, run, pass mode you don’t have the guy that can beat the tight coverage now. And that’s where Nicks was so big because he does such a great job of making plays when he is covered — the ability to turn a 2- or 3-yard play into a big-gainer. That’s hard to replace.
Q: With the injuries starting to pile up are you be concerned about another Giants’ second-half collapse?
A:
Last year they couldn’t stop people defensively and when you can’t do that it’s just demoralizing. Their defense is playing pretty well, even against the Eagles. The Bears and Giants are the two teams I am tracking for the final playoff spot because the loser of the Saints-Falcons race will get the other wild- card spot. The Giants are better than the Bears and if they get to 10 wins they should get in the playoffs.
Q: The Jaguars are 6-4 and leading the AFC South, but don’t seem to get much respect. Can they trip up the Giants?
A:
They are dangerous and have a lot of belief right now. But if you are going to have a game offensively where you are missing all your receivers this is a good matchup. There are some things the Giants can take advantage of on offense against the Jaguars.
Q: Eli Manning has taken some criticism for turning the ball over. Can he correct that problem?
A:
I am a big Eli fan and I really like him as a quarterback, but he is just making some real critical mistakes at the wrong times. You are going to turn the ball over, it’s just when you do it. I believe in the mental makeup of Eli and that he can fix the problem.
Q: You are a huge fan of Mark Sanchez’s — saying he is the fourth best quarterback in the AFC behind Philip Rivers, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Why do you think others don’t have as high of an opinion of the Jets quarterback?
A:
Because so many people said he couldn’t do it when he came out of USC that now they are trying to justify their original comments. Don’t try and have the answer before you evaluate it. I don’t think there’s even a question about it and I would challenge anyone on the planet to sit down and watch the film with me and argue with me.