With all the talk about how much money the New York Giants have spent this offseason, and how bad they’ve been the last few years on defense, many fans and experts have forgotten just how good Eli Manning has looked over the past two seasons.
After a rough 2014 preseason, quarterback Eli Manning and the rest of the Giants offense began to figure out then offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s system. Over the past two seasons, Big Blue’s signal-caller has thrown 65 touchdown passes and just 28 interceptions.
It’s a far cry from 2013, when Manning threw for 18 scores and was picked off a laughable league-high 27 times. Without a doubt, Manning’s turnaround has him back on track to be a Pro Football Hall of Fame candidate.
Related Story: Best NFL Quarterbacks In History
In fact, Manning’s career numbers have taken a huge jump with the last few years of success; he is now No. 8 all-time in career touchdown passes, 10th all-time in passes completed and 11th overall in career passing yards. He is also currently 10th overall in career game-winning drives with 33, and ninth in fourth-quarter comebacks with 27 (Courtesy of Pro Football Reference).
In 2016 alone, Eli has a realistic chance of eclipsing some current Hall of Fame quarterbacks in certain categories. If he throws for just 3,000 yards, he will jump into eighth place all-time in career passing yards, just above Fran Tarkenton and just behind Warren Moon. With eight touchdown passes, he will move into 7th place all-time above John Elway in career touchdown passes.
It isn’t stretch to think Manning could play into his 40s. And at 35, you’d think he could produce similar numbers under the current system he is in for the next four to five years. If he does, Eli would put himself near the top of the career leaderboard in many of the most meaningful statistical categories people use to judge someone worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. About 4,000 yards a year over that period would give near 64,000 for his career; 20 touchdowns a year on average would give him close to 400.
Those types of numbers would put him fifth and sixth, respectively, all-time. It would be hard to argue his candidacy regardless if “Easy E” can’t get the Giants a fifth Super Bowl title. It’s important to note that currently, every quarterback ahead of Eli statistically in career touchdowns is in the Hall of Fame (with the exception of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady, who should be when they retire).
In terms of career passing yards, the only guys not in the Hall of Fame that are ahead of Eli are Bledsoe and Testaverde, but they have no rings. And if Eli continues on his current pace, he will have passed both of them in 2016 in this category anyway.
More from New York Giants
- New York Giants deliberately disrespecting Saquon Barkley at this point
- 2023 NFL Season: Saquon Barkley signs silly deal with Giants
- New York Giants make big move with star RB disgruntled
- NFL: Which Giant deserved a contract extension – Barkley or Jones?
- 5 NFL teams that will definitely disappoint fans in 2023
Of course, a lot of this future production depends on Eli’s health and the players around him. But with Odell Beckham Jr. emerging as a future First-Team All-Pro, and Eli’s ability to stay on the field as the current leader in active career starts at quarterback, there is a great chance his production upswing continues under McAdoo’s head coaching regime.
Eli Manning’s detractors will point at his interception totals and say there is no reason he should ever make it to Canton. His 199 career picks, however, are well behind some other Hall of Fame quarterbacks that played a similar amount of years. Steelers’ all-time great Terry Bradshaw threw 210 in 13 years; Namath threw 220 in 12 years. Both are in the Hall, and there are other examples of quarterbacks that have high career interception numbers but made it to the Hall.
Eli Manning’s interception totals will not keep him out of Canton. His two Super Bowl rings will ensure that.
With all the negativity coming at the “G-Men” for their lack of playoff appearances and horrible record over the last five years, it is important to note that Eli and the offense should not be blamed for most of the issues, especially since the beginning of 2014. They have been able to maintain a top 10 offense in most of those years, with 2013 being the only bad year in terms of their overall offensive production (28 of 32 teams).
Manning, of course, has a lot to do with that, and 2016 should be no different. It is easy to believe he will throw for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns again. If they somehow make it to the Super Bowl and win it in the next few years, Manning will have locked up a gold jacket, as no three-time winning Super Bowl quarterback has been kept out of the Hall of Fame once eligible.
More nfl spin zone: Whitlock the Giants latest secret weapon?
All told, 2016 should be a big year for Eli and the rest of the Giants offense. A top 5 offensive ranking should surprise no one despite their win-loss record over the last few years.