Giants-Raiders: Manning Likely to Start

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - Eli Manning’s heel wasn’t a problem, as the quarterback threw for 173 yards and a pair of scores in just under two quarters to lead New York in a 44-7 rout of the Oakland Raiders in Week 5 action at Giants Stadium.

Manning, who was listed as questionable for the game due to plantar fasciitis in his right heel, led the Giants to scoring drives on each of the team’s first four possessions via 8-of-10 efficiency before being replaced by David Carr late in the second quarter. Carr finished 9-for-14 for 90 yards and added 27 yards and a score on four carries in the win.

Ahmad Bradshaw tallied 110 yards and two TDs on 11 carries and added a 55-yard reception for the Giants (5-0), who have won the first five games of the season for the first time since 1990, when the team won Super Bowl XXV. Brandon Jacobs added 67 yards on 21 carries, while Steve Smith notched 70 yards on three grabs.

Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham each had a touchdown catch for New York, which outgained its opponent 483-124.

JaMarcus Russell was a less-than-stellar 8-of-13 for 100 yards for the Raiders (1-4), who have dropped three in a row and will host the Philadelphia Eagles next week. Michael Bush racked up just 37 yards and a score on 12 carries, while Zach Miller led all Oakland receivers with 69 yards on four catches.

The Giants got on the board with the first drive of the game. Bradshaw’s one- yard TD run capped the 77-yard, 14-play drive which lasted just over eight minutes and gave the home team a 7-0 edge.

Following a three-and-out, the Giants responded with a three-play, 79-yard scoring drive. Bradshaw again capped the trek with a 19-yard scoring dash to give New York a 14-0 advantage.

After yet another three-and-out from Oakland, it was a Manning-to-Manningham 30-yard TD strike that put the finishing touches on a five-play, 94-yard drive. The possession, which lasted about a minute and a half, gave the Giants a 21-0 lead early in the second stanza.

It took the Raiders three plays to give the ball back. On 3rd-and-10 from their own 22, Russell dropped back to pass and had the ball stripped by Terrell Thomas, Justin Tuck then fell on it and the Giants took over at the Oakland 13.

On third down of the ensuing New York touch, Manning found Nicks for a nine- yard TD strike, and it was a 28-point game.

Bush had a five-yard TD run late in the first half to close it to 28-7. The score was the first touchdown for the Raiders in 130 plays.

However, the Giants responded with a 25-yard field goal with two ticks left in the half to make it 31-7 at the break.

Oakland’s first drive of the second half resulted in a three-and-out, and the Giants immediately capitalized. Carr’s 12-yard TD scramble closed out the 52- yard drive as the home team assumed a 38-7 lead with about 10 minutes left in the third.

Lawrence Tynes then added a 33-yard kick, following a Russell fumble, to make it a 34-point affair late in the third. A 37-yarder early in the fourth ballooned the difference to 44-7.

Manning stretched his consecutive starts streak to 83 games...The Giants had 27 first downs compared to seven for Oakland...New York has won its five games by a combined 80 points...The once high-octane Oakland offense has managed just 49 points in five games...Despite the setback, the Raiders have a 7-4 edge in their all-time series against the Giants...The Giants’ last home win over the Raiders took place in 1989.

- Via Sports Network.