QB Eli Manning
Postgame vs. Atlanta, September 20, 2015
Q: Eli, it looked like (the fumble play) should’ve been a game-sealing score and then the fumble after that, the team’s offense kind of seemed to disappear. What seemed to happen in those last drives?
A: Well, a lot things could’ve happened in the drives after that. The next drive we actually had a pretty good drive going, we were driving down there, we got to the third-and-two, they called a timeout, we came into the huddle and we had a run play and we didn’t get it, we got stopped right there. So that was a costly third down; one and a half, two yards. We got to convert right there. I thought we were pretty good on third down most of the day but then right there we were in their territory, had an opportunity to run some more clock and get a score and get us a nice lead. I’m trying to think about our next possession, we had got into a third-and-seven and had a big convert. I don’t think it was a matter of what happens this period to convert on third downs and they made some plays.
Q: What led to the delay of game and then the play after that it seemed like you brought the playclock down to the one again?
A: Yeah. Third-and-seven, was trying to get to a play that had a good coverage on. I thought I got the ball snapped, so that’s on me. Can’t afford a penalty there. We had deep coverage trying to get to a better play in those circumstances. Same thing on the next play, just checked it late to a different play trying to get a first down.
Q: Eli, there’s been a catch phrase for a number of years here about finishing the football game, do you have to go back to that? Is that one of the things here this team needs to focus on?
A: I think just playing better. I don’t know if catch phrases are going to work at this point. It’s just a matter of playing four quarters and we have—we’re not making the plays in the crucial moments, we’re having penalties and mistakes at different times that are preventing us from being as good as we can be. Bad plays are going to happen. Things are going to happen, fumbles, turnovers, that stuff we got to be able to bounce back a little bit better and overcome those things and don’t let it affect us for future series.
Q: Did you feel pretty certain that you were going to score before that fumble?
A: You know, we had a pretty good drive going, I don’t know if we would’ve gotten the touchdown right there. I was kind of buying some time. I was about to throw it to Rueben Randle on the left side of the end zone, he was scrambling for me and that’s when I was getting ready to pull it back and that’s when I got hit. It would’ve been tough but nice to get the field goal there, but just can’t afford turnovers down there in the redzone.
Q: You’re the guy who picks your teammates on the offense up if they make a mistake. How do you do that for yourself? Especially after these first two weeks.
A: You just move on. Try to think about the good things, think about where we can make improvements, come out there and practice, play well and trying to figure out how to play our best and get the win.
Q: Frustrating two games for you personally though?
A: [When you don’t win it’s frustrating]. When you lose a game, you take things very seriously and if you miss a play, you always know there were opportunities. Today had the ball a good time and timeouts and got the ball to the midfield and then right there we didn’t get anything right there, four incompletions and didn’t get a chance to get in the end zone.
Q: You and Odell had some good rhythm in the first three quarters of the game, did Atlanta do anything to take him away or limit him in the fourth?
A: They were better in the zone. So they were playing zone all day and trying to get into the lanes, not let you get the ball out in rhythm. Make you hold it and make you work and make guys in second windows. They did a good job and they were finally starting to get some pressure there in the last two series and prevented us from holding the ball long and getting guys open. Really good job, they’ve got a good plan, they were making us throw the ball underneath a lot all day. We hit a couple guys. We hit the big one to Odell but we didn’t get the ball down the field, they weren’t going to let us do that.
Q: Does Thursday become a must-win game now?
A: I guess the only time it’s truly a must-win game is when you’re in the playoffs or you’ve got to win to get into the playoffs. This is an important game, we know that. It’s a short week and don’t know much about Washington, they’ve got some new defensive coordinators so we got to look at a lot of film quickly, get prepared and hopefully go out there and play better.
Q: You had a couple incompletions late in the game, Donnell and Preston Parker, the passes weren’t perfect but both got their hands on it. What is the level of frustration that your receivers are not catching it?
A: No, I thought the receivers played well today, did a good job. I’ve got to make better throws. I’ve got to hit that one to Larry and get that ball down and give him the opportunity to make that catch. The last one I really didn’t get to see, kind of wasn’t an ideal situation. Didn’t have a whole lot of time to let the play develop and get the ball down the field and I didn’t quite see what happened. Everybody’s got to play better, everybody’s got to do their part and it starts with me and let’s get back to work and get to it.
Q: Last two years now you’ve started 0-2 and really had been unable to turn the season around and now you start 0-2 again, how much does it wear a team out to have to battle back at the beginning of the season?
A: Well, it’s a new team and new guys and new situation, so we’ve got to battle. We started out 0-2 and turned it around and went on a hot streak, so we need something to bring us together, get a break and make our breaks and start playing better, get the win and see if we can build up that momentum.
That overthrow to Donnell on the last drive was a killer....we would have been in great shape.
The delay of games.
The fumble, and really the second fumble.........
Throwing ball out of bounds so often not even giving our guys a shot.
Didn't he just say that?
Lol, no.
surprise it took you this long to post your nonsense.
Amazes me that anyone thinks it is lack of effort. He needs to win some games and complete key plays down stretch. That would give whole team more confidence.
Mason, I am not sure what you are reading. They asked Eli about the drives after the fumble so he answered the question.
Shut up.
#10*
if you sit Eli for one game it will light a fire under him and he will have his best game as a Giant the very next game.