This offseason Eli Manning received widespread criticism for saying that he is an elite NFL quarterback. Much of the disapproval towards his comments were unjustified considering that Eli's response was the answer that any NFL quarterback would have had.
When Eli was asked if he was an elite quarterback, he responded by saying yes. When he was asked if he was in the same class as Tom Brady, Eli said, "I consider myself in that class... I think now he's [Brady] grown up and gotten better every year and that's what I'm trying to do. I kind of hope these next seven years of my quarterback days are my best."
Many fans were outraged that Eli considered himself in that class. However, what do you expect Eli to say when he is asked that question? He obviously is not going to say that he isn't in Tom Brady's class, showing that he has no confidence in himself. You can't expect Eli to say he isn't an elite quarterback and show that he has no belief in his ability.
Although Eli received unfair treatment from the media because he answered the question as he should have answered it, it is understandable why people would have disagreed with Eli being an upper echelon quarterback before this season.
Prior to 2011, Eli had never been in the top 8 in the NFL in completion percentage and he had never been in the top 10 in the NFL in passer rating.
The biggest compliant against Eli was his turnover problems. In 2010, Eli led the NFL with 25 interceptions and only Jay Cutler in 2009 with 26 picks and Brett Favre in 2005 with 29 interceptions threw more picks in a single season than Eli since 1999. From 2009 to 2010, only Jay Cutler with 42 interceptions threw more picks than Eli, who threw 39 in that two year span. Not including his rookie season where he started just 7 games, from 2005 to 2010, Eli averaged just over 17 picks. Since 2000, only Jake Plummer in 2000 and 2002, Vinny Testaverde in 2000 and 2004, Jon Kitna in 2001, 2006, and 2007, Brett Favre in 2003, 2005, and 2008, Carson Palmer in 2007 and 2010, and Eli Manning in 2007 and 2010 have thrown 20 interceptions in more than one season.
However, Eli's career year this season has proved that he is in fact one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
First and foremost, before we look at Eli's incredible numbers this season, he led a team with a subpar defense to an NFC East championship and their first division title and playoff appearance since 2008. With injuries all over the place including defensive ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, linebacker Michael Boley, and cornerbacks Terrell Thomas and Prince Amukamara, the Giants defense really struggled this season. The Giants were 27th in the NFL in yards per game allowed, 29th in passing yards per game allowed, and 25th in points per game allowed. Despite having a defense that allowed 25 points per game, the worst for a team that made the postseason, Eli overcame all of the Giants deficiencies to lead them to the playoffs. If the Giants had failed to make the playoffs, it would have been their third straight season without going to the postseason and you can't be an elite quarterback if your team misses the playoffs three straight years.
The elite NFL quarterbacks play well in crutch time and in the fourth quarter when the game matters the most.
There was no quarterback in the NFL who was better in the fourth quarter than Eli Manning. In the fourth quarter alone, Eli threw 15 touchdowns, while in the other three quarters combined he threw 19 touchdowns. His 15 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter set an NFL record passing his brother Peyton's 14 fourth quarter touchdowns in 2002 and the great Johnny Unitas's 14 fourth quarter touchdown passes as well.
Eli's 6 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter were an NFL high and his fourth quarter heroics were highlighted in the Giants huge comeback win on the road in week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys. With Big Blue down 34-22 with 5:41 remaining, Eli threw for 122 yards to lead two touchdown drives and knock off the Cowboys 37-34. Manning said after the victory, "We've been in these situations before. It's a fun way to win."
Eli said about his fourth quarter success, "I don't ever feel pressure when I'm playing football. I know my assignments, I'm reading defense, I know my plays and I try to get the ball into my receivers' hands. It's exciting, it's fun. I'm competitive and I'm out there doing what I can to get a win."
Eli Manning had by far his best statistical season in the NFL as well.
Eli set several Giants single-season records this year. His 4,933 passing yards smashed the old Giants record for most passing yards in a season, which had previously been held by Kerry Collins when he threw for 4,073 yards in 2002 with the G-Men. Eli's 359 completions also broke his own record of 339 completions that he set the year before in 2010.
Eli was 5th in the NFL in completions, which was just the second time in his career that he was in the top ten in completions. He was also 4th in the NFL in passing yards, which is extremely impressive considering that his 4,933 yards were the 6th most in NFL history. His 92.9 passer rating was a career high as well and the first time he finished in the top ten in the category. Most importantly, Eli cut down on the turnovers as he threw 16 interceptions, which was less than Philip Rivers and Cam Newton and the same amount as Carson Palmer and Matthew Stafford.
It would be hard to argue that Eli is on the same level as Aaron Rodgers, Drew Bress, and Tom Brady (and Peyton Manning when he is healthy) but he is at the top of the next level of elite quarterbacks and being a top 5 quarterback in the NFL is nothing to be ashamed of.
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