After leading the NFL in interceptions by a wide margin in 2013, Eli Manning had been better in 2014, only throwing six in nine games before Sunday. Then the Giants played the 49ers. Here are Manning's five picks and five reactions:
Watch all 5 of Eli Manning’s interceptions in the Giants’ 16-10 loss to the 49ers
Eli Manning threw five picks against the 49ers. Five. They lost by less than a touchdown. Let’s relive his amazing day.
In order:
1. A pass across the middle intended for Odell Beckham Jr., jumped by a waiting Chris Borland
2. A pass thrown more or less directly to San Francisco's Michael Wilhoite. The book will show that this is intended for Rueben Randle, but there was a miscommunication -- Randle was well covered and nowhere in the area. Even if Manning thought Randle was supposed to be somewhere else, it's still tough to see why he made this throw -- it's right to Wilhoite.
3. A pass wayyyyyyy overthrown to Randle, easily picked off by the safety Eric Reid. Reid returned this one for 51 yards.
Tough day for Eli
4. A pass thrown to Randle, but inaccurately -- Manning's pass is a few steps off of where Randle is and it's easily picked off by Chris Culliver.
5. A fourth-down goal-line throw meant for Preston Parker that's deflected and picked off by Borland. You could argue it's not Manning's fault that it's deflected, but he tried forcing it into a hole that really wasn't there. This play came after back-to-back-to-back incompletions on end zone fades.
Manning’s final line was 22-for-45 with 280 yards, one TD, and five picks. An awful day by Manning, both with his poor decisions to make throws and poor execution on those throws.
★★★
