New York Giants: Grading Eli Manning After 3 Weeks

For the first time in his NFL career, Eli is the most productive Manning brother in the league. Due to a plethora of injuries around him—one to his older brother Peyton, and the rest to the playmakers whom he relies on. Eli is in a spotlit position, the likes of which he's never been in before.

In spite of the Giants overachieving 2-1 start, however, Eli has yet to take advantage of this golden opportunity. Even in an impressive upset over the rival Eagles in Philadelphia, Eli seemed to just be going through the motions. Here's a look at how Eli Manning has graded out week-by-week this season, including an overall grade through three games.

Week 1: Redskins 28, Giants 14

Stats: 18-32 268 Yards 0 TD 1 INT; 1 Rush TD

QB Rating: 70.8

Grade: C

After a dull, lifeless 2010 campaign, the Redskins have emerged from the ashes, and shown signs of life and energy early in 2011; particularly on defense. That’s about the only excuse Eli has for his Week 1 performance.

What we had here was classic Eli: Given an opportunity to open up the season with a statement win on the road, he mailed in a relatively anonymous afternoon. Never before has a No. 1 Overall Pick, especially one wearing the esteemed name of Manning on his back, made it so easy for fans to forget he’s on the field.

The play that'll be remembered the most is the pick he threw to rookie defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. It was on this throw that the entire game shifted in Washington's favor. It wasn't the worst throw Eli has ever made, but it was definitely ill-advised.

Week 2: Giants 28, Rams 16

Stats: 19-30 223 Yards 2 TD 1 INT

QB Rating: 94.2

Grade: B-

Another ho-hum performance for Eli; this time under the Monday night lights, with the entire country (or at least the ones who care enough about football to turn on a Rams' game) watching.

Eli gets the benefit of the doubt because a) he settled in as the game went on and b) he lost his safety net halfway through the game, when Mario Manningham left with a concussion. Before that however, Eli threw a terrible pick, which has thus far been the lasting image of his season. With Manningham streaking wide open down the right sideline, Manning floated an underthrown duck right into the hands of Quinton Mikell. A sure touchdown turned into an easy interception. As a fellow Manningham fantasy owner, this was a hard one for me to forget about.

Call me a cynic, but Eli was also aided but a bunch of careless Rams' mistakes in this game. The defense scored a touchdown on a backwards pass turned fumble, and a Rams' pass interference on fourth down in the first half, saved the Giants from a failed conversion.

Eli did enough to win, but didn't look particularly impressive.

Week 3: Giants 29, Eagles 16

Stats: 16-23 254 Yards 4 TD 0 INT

QB Rating:

Grade: B

Let’s not blow things out of proportion here. If not for a JV tackling exhibition by Kurt Coleman on Victor Cruz’s first touchdown, Manning probably finishes with about 200 yards here.

He threw four touchdowns, and the Giants scored 29 points, but the offense wasn’t moving consistently on the afternoon. Plus, Victor Cruz's second touchdown came on a jump ball-type throw. Their yards came in shorts outbursts, and big plays. They actually, as it turns out, beat the Eagles at their own game.

What Eli did do well, however, was avoid turning the ball over. Even in the face of a typically dominant Eagles' pass rush, Manning managed to avoid making the mistakes that he’s become so accustomed to; the mistakes that have directly resulted in underserved losses to the Eagles in the past.

Overall

Stats: 53-85 785 Yards 6 TD 2 INT; 1 Rush TD

QB Rating: 104.3

Grade: B

Is it cynical to give a B to a guy whose QB Rating through three weeks is 104.3? Maybe. But as far as Eli Manning is concerned, I'm a cynic.

Manning has looked good on paper this season, but anybody who's been watching knows that he hasn't quite passed the eye test. During the offseason, he declared that he thought he was in the same class as Tom Brady, but during games he disappears. It seems like the Giants are being quarterbacked by Generic QB X.

That being said, Eli has gone through his usual motions, and done so without making costly errors in judgment that lead to turnovers. If he can continue to do that, maybe he'll be just good enough to bring the Giants back to the playoffs. And as he's proven in the past, once he's in the playoffs, who knows how things will end up.