Eli Manning doesn’t show the strain or the failure or the disappointment the way others do. His face does not contort, his veins do not bulge from his neck, his words are not biting and laced with anger.
Much of what you get with Manning is a shrug, a subtle wave of his arms, some mild traces of irritation in his voice. But this is eating at the franchise quarterback of the Giants as he remains at the helm of one of the NFL’s most dysfunctional and least productive offenses.
“This is my job,’’ Manning said. “It’s something I take very seriously, and you work hard to try to go out there and have a good year and play well and get wins, and obviously we haven’t produced any wins yet.
“Yeah, it’s difficult, but I think you’ve got to stay strong, and I think a team that can deal with adversity and come out of it, and I know there are benefits to that, and if we can get out of it, I think it will make us a stronger team and better for it. But obviously, we’ve got to break into that win section.’’
Breaking into an armored vault might be easier for the Giants than breaking into that win section, as they stand at 0-4 heading into Sunday’s game against the Eagles, just the Giants’ second at MetLife Stadium this season. If they cannot summon up enough of a performance to beat the 1-3 Eagles, they might be on their way to an all-time rotten season.
If the Giants somehow shed their losing ways at 1-4, they could be only one game out of first place in the NFC East, if the unbeaten Broncos win at Dallas. Thus far, the mediocrity of the division has not been much of an alluring carrot for the Giants to grasp.
“We’re a better team than what we’ve been playing like,’’ Manning said, “but we’ve got to go out there and prove it.’’
A look inside the game:
BEST BATTLE
Eagles RB LeSean McCoy vs. Giants MLB Mark Herzlich
Of course this isn’t a one-on-one matchup, but Herzlich usually makes the defensive calls and is the leading tackler, although he’s not an impact player. McCoy leads the NFL in rushing with 468 yards and has a league-leading 13 rushes of 10 or more yards. If Herzlich and his mates fail to wrap up, McCoy will embarrass them.
QUICK VICK
When his legs get motoring, it is hard to remember that Michael Vick is actually a year older than Eli Manning. Vick’s career-long run of 61 yards vs. the Chiefs is the second-longest run in NFL history by a 33-year-old, and he’s on pace for 912 rushing yards this season. Alex Smith hurt the Giants last week with his scrambles, and Smith is strictly right lane when compared to Vick’s HOV speed.
“I feel fresh,’’ Vick said. “I’m playing back to my abilities. I feel quicker and faster, I can’t say than I have ever felt, but I feel just as quick and fast as I did over the last previous year. I’m not a young guy. I’m 33 years old, but the physical shape that I’m in, I’m blessed to be in the position that I am, to be able to move the way I can.’’
TRULY OFFENSIVE
There is nothing the Giants do well with the ball in their possession other than throw it to Victor Cruz. Otherwise, they resemble an expansion team in terms of converting third downs, protecting the quarterback, scoring points and protecting the football. Here’s come what amounts to an open-book test. The Eagles have allowed 138 points and probably are playing the worst defense in the league.
“I think if we give the quarterback time, I think very confidently he’ll throw the ball well and give our guys a chance,’’ offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “I think we are getting better in the running game. The last two weeks, as bad as it’s been, it’s been improving. I think we’re headed in the right direction. Unfortunately it’s been painfully slow.’’
SHORT-LIVED DOMINANCE
Chip Kelly was all the rage for the first three quarters of his NFL head-coaching tenure when his fast-forward Eagles surged to a 33-7 lead in Washington. Since then, Kelly’s Eagles have been outscored 131-66 and are 1-3 with three consecutive losses.
SPEED KILLS
Vick insists the rest of the league has not caught up to the Eagles’ breakneck pace.
“They’re not really figuring out what we’re doing,’’ he said. “They’re just keeping it simple, putting a man on a man and playing simple football.’’
The Eagles snap the ball so quickly that it is virtually impossible for opposing defenses to rotate players onto the field.
“I think the biggest challenge is confusion — and chaos,” Justin Tuck said. “You do have to simplify it. I think the teams that have been at the line of scrimmage ready to go when they’re ready to go have better success against them. When you’re looking to the sideline for the call or you’re trying to get lined up and you’re scrambling, that’s when you see them hit huge plays.’’
LINE DANCE
Perhaps now that the Giants have closure and know Chris Snee is not coming back this season, the offensive line can move forward without constantly waiting for help. With the insertion of veteran David Diehl into Snee’s right guard spot and another week with Jim Cordle at center, maybe this group can actually block and protect and open holes.