(Photo Credit: Matt Rourke – AP)

This was set up like a dream for Eli Manning and a nightmare for the Philadelphia Eagles

Manning, 38 and benched early in the season for Daniel Jones, returned to the New York Giants’ lineup Monday night with the rookie sidelined by a high ankle sprain. His time with the Giants, if not in the NFL, is limited. Why not snag one more big win on national TV?

And so Manning passed for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the first half in Philadelphia as the Giants took a 17-3. The Eagles left the field at halftime to resounding boos from the crowd.

The Eagles were in desperate need of a victory to keep pace with the Dallas Cowboys in the underperforming NFC East. Injuries scrambled their receiver positions and they looked completely out of synch. They appeared to be heading to a 5-8 mark by falling to a team on an eight-game losing streak.

Down but not out, the Eagles came back on the field as a changed team.

“Everybody kind of understood what was going on, and it was just a matter of pride,” coach Doug Pederson said. “It’s a want-to, a will, a desire, and that’s what I saw at halftime from the guys.”

The Giants (2-11) never scored again. Manning, who passed for 179 yards, finished with 203. When the game went to overtime, Manning never even got to see the football. Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz teamed with tight end Zach Ertz for a pair of touchdowns, the latter in overtime, and the Eagles salvaged a disappointing season with a 23-17 triumph. If the Eagles (6-7) win out, they make the playoffs. They finish with three division games – at the Washington Redskins, home with the Cowboys, at the Giants. None of their opponents have a winning record.

As for Manning? The nicest way to put it is his future is behind him. The two-time Super Bowl MVP may choose to play next season, but it likely won’t be with the Giants.

The Eagles? They’re living for today.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman