Re-watch the 2011 season highlights re: Eli Manning

I was beginning to think that I was the only one who remembered it that way.

I began to doubt myself. *grin*

Who went 15-1?

I was referring more to how well he played that year, not specifically about him receiving the MVP.

Considering his defense and running game, the comebacks, and the end result he was absolutely the best that year.

try to present their cases. It is just how things are however shortsighted.

I think he was definitely in strong consideration that year and the playoff performance certainly in the top three in history.

The thing that always bothered me was that performance was not a anomaly. The next two years he lost both of those WR's (Nicks to me was the much bigger loss in 2012) and the line went from passable in the playoffs to very poor. That issue was never fixed.

Eli should have had at least had 3-4 more very good years of high performance and most likely are far more positive outlook of his career. Very unfortunate.

In comment 14590421 LawrenceTaylor56 said:

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Who went 15-1?

Eli carried the #27 defense and the #32 ranked running game.

Serious question... has a team with defensive and running game rankings so low EVER made the playoffs? Or even had a winning record?

that that was a 4 win team without Manning's play.

In comment 14590435 JohnG in Albany said:

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that that was a 4 win team without Manning's play.

People forget how horrific our defense was until the Jets game. Same with the running game.

The defense blew lead after lead and Eli had to save their necks. That was the year Justin Tuck moped until he had a heart-to-heart with Coughlin.

In comment 14590439 Eric from BBI said:

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In comment 14590435 JohnG in Albany said: Quote: that that was a 4 win team without Manning's play. People forget how horrific our defense was until the Jets game. Same with the running game. The defense blew lead after lead and Eli had to save their necks. That was the year Justin Tuck moped until he had a heart-to-heart with Coughlin.

Yes it was. However, they may have had the best WR trio in the league and both Nicks and Cruz were at a elite level which helped overcome those deficiencies. When the running game and defense came around they became a very good team.

I suggest you go back and re-watch the DVD if you have it. The throws he made in clutch situations over and over again in each game were amazing. Defense stole a couple of other Eli 4th-quarter comebacks too (like the Packers regular season game).

One of his go-to guys was Ballard.

The 2010 season still pisses me off.
America's Game 2011 New York Giants SB XLVI Champions - ( New Window )

In comment 14590447 Eric from BBI said:

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I suggest you go back and re-watch the DVD if you have it. The throws he made in clutch situations over and over again in each game were amazing. Defense stole a couple of other Eli 4th-quarter comebacks too (like the Packers regular season game). One of his go-to guys was Ballard.

I believe you. He was magnificent that year and that was a really special team.

Eli was at the top of the sport WITH Brady and Rodgers in 2011.

Eli is going to the Hall.

Multiple SB MVPs on a list with Montana, Starr, Brady and Bradshaw.

All the major stats are top 10 for career.

Iron Man streak.

Walter Payton man of the Year.

His 2 Super Bowl changing plays.

He’s going.

in that 2011 season, and I think the reason non-Giants fans don't consider Eli a HOF often. He didn't look like that nearly enough in his career, but what a glorious year that was. Nicks too was so good that year it's tragic he pretty much was never the same player after the Buccaneers game

Overall body of work is better than Rodgers in 2011.

In comment 14590452 Jesse B said:

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in that 2011 season, and I think the reason non-Giants fans don't consider Eli a HOF often. He didn't look like that nearly enough in his career, but what a glorious year that was. Nicks too was so good that year it's tragic he pretty much was never the same player after the Buccaneers game

Bingo. I think people were expecting Eli to have a 2011 year more often than he did.

We’re 100% Eli guts! He just willed that team.

It’s a shame the Giants wasted the next 3 years of his “prime”

Unfortunately when most people emotionally react to Eli’s benching they are remembering 2011 Eli. Not 2017-2019 Eli. Everyone gets old. Nobody plays forever.

But man, Eli was great in 2011. That’s for sure.

JPP also singlehandedly (ironic now) carried the D in 2011.

Now I wish U had that Highlight DVD

The one spell when I really though Eli was a top tier QB was 2011 into mid-2012.

That sad the fact is 45 TD 6 Int and 15-1 is never not going to win MVP over 29 TD 16 Int and 9-7. And the Packers running game and defense were nothing to write home about that year.

He was off the charts good that year if you consider the full context.

The Giants won it all with an OL on its last legs, bad running game, and a suspect defense. I think in some ways the title validated the roster building strategy to Reese which resulted in terrible drafts and rosters in subsequent years.

an amazing quarterback for 10 years, unfortunately he played for 15....

The Giants organization has much blame in the less than elegant end of his career, but so does Eli, he had to know that he was done a few years back. I simply cannot believe that such an intelligent athlete was not aware of his own declining skill set.

I will always remember him to the first half, not the second half, of his career.

It would be unrealistic expectations to expect seasons like 2011 from Manning. To me if that was your expectations then I would say perhaps you don't fully understand just how great that season was from a qb standpoint.

And I’m convinced most would say “defense carried him”

In comment 14590579 crick n NC said:

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It would be unrealistic expectations to expect seasons like 2011 from Manning. To me if that was your expectations then I would say perhaps you don't fully understand just how great that season was from a qb standpoint.

Eli 2011 stats are not legendary compared to Rodgers. Eli was clutch but not at anytime did any non eli fan thought he was the best qb that year

Manning wasn't the MVP that year. Drew Brees had one of the great seasons a quarterback has ever had, and should have won. Rodgers was fantastic, but Brees was out of this world that year.

MVP is a regular season award, and Brees and Rodgers were regular season champs that year.

When it really mattered Manning was better than both.

8th 4th quarterback comeback wins in one season. Eight.

Almost had two more during the regular season, against the Packers and and 49ers.

He was 2-0 against Brady that year.

He was almost 2-0 against Rogers.

And when the time comes, whoever is in the room making the case for Eli's HoF bona fides, the 2011 season, the way he carried the team in the regular season, the amazing playoff run, the courageous NFC championship game in SF, the perfect throw to Manningham in the SB, the second SB MVP should be part of a winning presentation. He damn well should have been MVP for that season.

In comment 14590421 LawrenceTaylor56 said:

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Who went 15-1?

Yes. Rodgers had a much better team and he lost in the playoffs at home.

just points up the importance of good coaching. Mike Pope made a player out of Ballard the same way he made a player out of Kevin Boss. Maybe he could have done the same with Adrien Robinson or Jerrell Adams. The importance of position coaching is too often overlooked.

In comment 14590447 Eric from BBI said:

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I suggest you go back and re-watch the DVD if you have it. The throws he made in clutch situations over and over again in each game were amazing. Defense stole a couple of other Eli 4th-quarter comebacks too (like the Packers regular season game). One of his go-to guys was Ballard.

That packers game was won for the packers by the refs. One of the most egregiously badly officiated games of all time. I believe they took a TD away from us.

This isn’t a new or controversial comment either. Many people outside of Giants fans agree. That year also felt like the pinnacle of Eli’s mastery in Gilbride’s offense. In hindsight, Reese and Ross should have rushed to rebuild the Oline like the Cowboys eventually did. You have a classic pocket passer that was now a 2xSBMVP. Seems bizarre how they did little to nothing to protect him.

In comment 14590642 BBelle21 said:

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This isn’t a new or controversial comment either. Many people outside of Giants fans agree. That year also felt like the pinnacle of Eli’s mastery in Gilbride’s offense. In hindsight, Reese and Ross should have rushed to rebuild the Oline like the Cowboys eventually did. You have a classic pocket passer that was now a 2xSBMVP. Seems bizarre how they did little to nothing to protect him.

Yep. Makes me sad.

This is why so many people are pissed at Reese. He had to know his team needed a rebuild in the worst way. Why we didn’t stay a playoff team for the last 6 years is completely because of Ross and Reese.

that Eli was always this lumbering turnover machine. He was fantastic in 2011 and for a good ten tears I always felt that if the Giants were down with a chance to win and Eli got the ball back he'd drive down for the winning score. I was talking to a few Giant buddies this week who are delirious with hate for Eli and they both contend that he always "sucked" and that the defense won both Superbowls. So sad to hear that! I trust that as time goes by he will truly be appreciated for what he did in his time here.

I remember thinking what a shame it was. If this team had a defense they could win the Superbowl. The defense was 2019 Giants awful. Typical Fewell pass coverage. No one knew what the hell they were doing. It is pretty amazing the defense was able to turn it around.

That was a weird season in that they started out hot and then has 6-2 then lost 4 in a row and 5 out of 6. Amazing turn around.

2015 was better but he gets the pub for 2011 because team won ring

When is 29 tds and 16 picks a hot year

Packers defense was almost a bad as giants that year and Rodgers had less wr talent and threw 2 picks and had about 50 tds.

What made eli great that year was the clutch performance in big spots but a flip of a play here and they don't make playoffs

2015 was his best statistic season on a 6 win team

I never once thought eli was ever close to best qb in any given season

People talk about that 2011 like it was this legendary season when stats don't back it up and you can dig into stats and see other QBs did better with less but did not win a ring

In comment 14590683 Johnny5 said:

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In comment 14590642 BBelle21 said: Quote: This isn’t a new or controversial comment either. Many people outside of Giants fans agree. That year also felt like the pinnacle of Eli’s mastery in Gilbride’s offense. In hindsight, Reese and Ross should have rushed to rebuild the Oline like the Cowboys eventually did. You have a classic pocket passer that was now a 2xSBMVP. Seems bizarre how they did little to nothing to protect him. Yep. Makes me sad.

Me too :)

In comment 14590702 Walker Gillette said:

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that Eli was always this lumbering turnover machine. He was fantastic in 2011 and for a good ten tears I always felt that if the Giants were down with a chance to win and Eli got the ball back he'd drive down for the winning score. I was talking to a few Giant buddies this week who are delirious with hate for Eli and they both contend that he always "sucked" and that the defense won both Superbowls. So sad to hear that! I trust that as time goes by he will truly be appreciated for what he did in his time here.

It's not a "narrative". His career turnovers are what they are. 7 years in the top 5 for INTs, including leading the league in INTs 2 or 3 times.

He is 14th all time in INT and 6th all time in fumbles. It's not good.

In comment 14590709 Junior22 said:

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2015 was better but he gets the pub for 2011 because team won ring When is 29 tds and 16 picks a hot year Packers defense was almost a bad as giants that year and Rodgers had less wr talent and threw 2 picks and had about 50 tds. What made eli great that year was the clutch performance in big spots but a flip of a play here and they don't make playoffs 2015 was his best statistic season on a 6 win team I never once thought eli was ever close to best qb in any given season People talk about that 2011 like it was this legendary season when stats don't back it up and you can dig into stats and see other QBs did better with less but did not win a ring

Idk, it was legendary though. Isn’t Eli the only QB in NFL history to throw for over 4900 yards and win the SBMVP in the same year while carrying a defense who gave up the most points in a season to actually reach a SB let alone win it? While taking the 4Q TD record from Peyton and Unitas? Other QBs that year may have had nicer stats in areas, but none can match what Eli did. Not sure how other QBs did better with less when Eli also had the 32nd ranked run game to “help” him.

In comment 14590605 Eric from BBI said:

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8th 4th quarterback comeback wins in one season. Eight. Almost had two more during the regular season, against the Packers and and 49ers.

He also came close to a win against Seattle, in which a Cruz stumble led to a game-ending pick six.

The offensive line showed its age that year badly. Diehl was falling off a cliff, MacKenzie was on his last legs, Baas didn't adequately replace O'Hara, and Snee was on a downslide.

The team's solution was to draft a running back, kick Diehl to right tackle, and make Will Beatty and Kevin Boothe starters. The team has never really recovered from that blunder.

In comment 14590709 Junior22 said:

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2015 was better but he gets the pub for 2011 because team won ring When is 29 tds and 16 picks a hot year Packers defense was almost a bad as giants that year and Rodgers had less wr talent and threw 2 picks and had about 50 tds. What made eli great that year was the clutch performance in big spots but a flip of a play here and they don't make playoffs 2015 was his best statistic season on a 6 win team I never once thought eli was ever close to best qb in any given season People talk about that 2011 like it was this legendary season when stats don't back it up and you can dig into stats and see other QBs did better with less but did not win a ring

2011 was Elis best year, and he was amazing. But no way shape or form did he deserve the mvp award of Rodgers. Rodgers was simply an unstoppable force and overall impeccable qb play

Eli kicked Rodgers ass in the playoff game. I know the MVP is determined before then, but Eli showed up in the playoffs and Rodgers didn't. Case closed.

and took them right down to the wire, scoring a lot of points on them albeit losing. I am sure that gave Giants a whole lot of confidence to play them again. Similar to Pats matchup in 2007.

Green By offense also came out flat in those 2011 playoffs...maybe from the week off.

The 2011 season has been my biggest argument over The last 5 years about how much Eli had declined. To me it's just so obvious to the eye. We are finally past that. After the 2011 season I would not have traded Eli for any player in the NFL.

And carried them kicking and screaming into the playoffs.

one point in the Atlanta playoff game, Brandon Jacobs turned to Eli and said, "You're a beast."

once I do that then I will weight in on the MVP