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Eli Keeps Cool Under Pressure

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

Updated: 01/02/2008 12:12 am

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Through all the tumult and all the turnovers, the Big Apple has yet to crush Eli Manning's spirit. The Bucs will give it a go Sunday.

Manning, who turns 27 Thursday, should be a broken man by now.

When you play quarterback for the New York Giants, pressure doesn't come just from the pass rushers paid handsomely to scramble your brain.

Pressure comes with the knowledge you carry the hopes and dreams of Howie from Hoboken and Billy from Bensonhurst.

New York's sports talk shows have had their way with Manning for four years, comparing him unfavorably to big brother Peyton and wondering when he'll play up to the exorbitant price the Giants paid San Diego to acquire him on draft day in 2004.

Manning shrugs off the stress, even while that 0-2 postseason mark hangs over his helmet heading into the opening-round playoff matchup in Tampa.

"The guy has the best poker face of all time," Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "It doesn't matter what people say about him, what is thrown at him or how bad he plays. I think the guy was bred for this. He was bred to play quarterback and he was bred to play in New York City. He doesn't break stride. He's about as even-keeled of an NFL player as I've ever seen."

Manning will take on the NFL's No. 1 pass defense with considerable momentum after firing four touchdown passes against the Patriots in Saturday night's 38-35 setback. A 52-yard bomb to Plaxico Burress on the second snap set the tone for an ambitious game plan that generated a 28-16 advantage in the third quarter.

"We hit some big plays and we got everybody involved, which I think is when we're at our best," said Manning, who threw for 251 yards and posted a better passer rating 118.6 than Tom Brady. "It helps our confidence as an offense."

Despite throwing 68 interceptions in his 57 pro starts, Manning maintains a cool indifference toward his critics.

In the city that never sleeps, athletes like Alex Rodriguez and Stephon Marbury toss and turn at night, wondering whether the shiny coin and bright lights are worth all that glare.

"If you stay in this business long enough, you're going to take heat," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "But he Manning is a young guy and he's playing in a tough place. He lost his tight end Jeremy Shockey and Tiki Barber retired. I thought he hung in there and had a heck of a year, really."

In tying for the NFL lead with 20 interceptions this season, Manning averaged only 6.3 yards per pass attempt. That's less than Joey Harrington and well below Jeff Garcia's 7.5 average.

But with the eyes of three networks upon him, Manning looked poised and aggressive Saturday night.

The Giants didn't commit a turnover for the first 50 minutes, until New England had completed its game-changing run of 22 consecutive points. Maybe Manning proved something to himself that evening as he completed 22 passes to six different receivers, keeping New England off balance.

Now a fresh challenge awaits at Raymond James Stadium, where Ronde Barber and his rowdy friends intend to shake that new-found confidence and keep the Giants winless in the postseason since the 2000 club that reached Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa.

"At first, that can be a goal, to make the playoffs, but after you have been there, now it is to win a playoff game and extend your goals to the next level," Manning said. "The Bucs are very sound with what they're doing. They don't give up big plays by mental mistakes."

New York's solid ground game might ease Manning's burden Sunday, but his penchant for giveaways could prove decisive.

He has fumbled 31 times in the past three seasons, losing 11, and the Bucs are 40-7 under Gruden when winning the turnover battle, including an 8-1 mark in 2007.

Tampa Bay's swarming defense won't be resting any regulars Sunday. The attack plan is to gang up on bruising runner Brandon Jacobs, force Manning into obvious passing situations and stack up the takeaways.

"If Eli plays well, it helps, but everybody has to play well, not just Eli," Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said. "If we don't give up points, they don't win, so everything is not on Eli. Responsibility lies with us as a team, but if he plays well, that's a serious plus for us."

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833 or ikaufman@tampatrib.com.

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