Eli Manning Remains Optimistic, Upbeat As Giants Hope For A Magical Week 17
NEW YORK (WFAN) - The Giants know that they let the division slip through their fingers this season.
And they know that, just like that, their season is hanging on by a thread.
Big Blue has been outscored 67-14 over the last two games to drop to 8-7 and ninth in the NFC standings. For the defending Super Bowl champions to get back to the postseason, they need to defeat the Eagles on Sunday and hope that the Lions, Packers and Redskins win their respective games.
It's unquestionably a daunting playoff scenario.
LISTEN: Giants quarterback Eli Manning chats with Mike Francesa
"We haven't done what we wanted to do the last two games," quarterback Eli Manning told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Friday. "But you have a chance to possibly get in, and you want to try to give yourself that chance. That's all we can hope for."
In consecutive weeks the G-Men have fallen to the Falcons, 34-0, and the Ravens, 33-14. With those challenging games out of the way, New York concludes its regular season against the lowly Eagles -- tied for the worst record in the conference -- at MetLife Stadium. The Giants lost to Philadelphia, 19-17, in Week 4 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Though the odds of the Giants returning to the playoffs are slim, Manning is staying upbeat and maintaining that it's not over 'til it's over.
"We've played good teams and we've beaten some good teams this year," Manning said. "This is the circumstance. We've got Philadelphia, we've got a division rival. Our focus is, 'Hey, we've got to win this game. We've got to win this game to give ourselves a chance to make the playoffs.' And that's how you look at it. At this moment, that's all we can worry about. That's how we have to think, we have to think positive.
"We have to think, 'Hey, everything is going to work out. Those other teams are going to win for us, and we have to go out and do our business.'"
The two-time Super Bowl MVP was inefficient against Baltimore last Sunday, completing 14 of 28 passes for just 150 yards and a touchdown. He didn't throw an interception, but he was sacked three times for a loss of 31 yards.
Even if the Giants don't get the necessary help to advance to the NFL's second season, the veteran quarterback feels that it's important to end the season strong and go out with a winning record.
"I think it is important to finish on a high note and try to win the last game," the two-time Pro Bowler said. "If it doesn't work out where we make the playoffs, at least you finished knowing that you played at a high level during that last game."
But still, Manning isn't looking at this final contest as anything less than a playoff game.
He still believes that the Giants have some magic left in them, and maybe an angel in their corner.
"This is a big game for us," Manning said. "It's a must-win situation."
So Eli Manning still believes in a magical Week 17. Do you, Giants fans? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...
