Eli Manning earns first playoff win

Jan 7, 2008 - 12:50 AM By PA SportsTicker

Peyton Manning is no longer the only quarterback in the family with a playoff victory.

Peyton's little brother, Eli, earned his first postseason win Sunday as the New York Giants defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-14, in an NFC wild card contest.

Eli Manning actually achieved the milestone quicker than his brother, who led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl title last season.

The younger Manning, who turned 27 on Thursday, recorded his first playoff win in his third postseason start and fourth year as the Giants' starter. It took Peyton Manning six seasons and four attempts to get his first postseason triumph.

"This was a great game, a playoff game, a lot of pressure on him and he stood in there," Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said of his teammate. "You couldn't ask anything more from him and I think it was a great performance by Eli."

Manning repeatedly came under fire for erratic play during the regular season but he was nearly flawless Sunday, completing 20-of-27 for 185 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions against the league's top pass defense.

Due to his laid-back demeanor and lack of emotion, Manning's leadership qualities have been called into question. His teammates were thrilled to see him get his first playoff victory.

"He took what was out there and didn't force anything," Giants receiver Amani Toomer said. "He doesn't get real excited; there is more than one way to lead a team. He showed that today."

New York's win sets up a third meeting this season with the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round next week.

In the weekend's final wild card contest, the San Diego Chargers shook off a sluggish first half to eliminate the Tennessee Titans, 17-6.

That result set up a rematch next Sunday as the Chargers visit the Indianapolis Colts, while the undefeated New England Patriots host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday in the other AFC playoff contest. The Jaguars ousted the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-29, Saturday on a late field goal.

The Chargers handed the Colts one of their three losses, holding on for a 23-21 Week 11 win in San Diego when Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field goal in the final two minutes. Indianapolis, which nearly erased a 23-0 deficit, was in position to win despite a franchise-record six interceptions by Peyton Manning.

In the other NFC divisional contest, the Green Bay Packers host the Seattle Seahawks and former coach Mike Holmgren next Sunday. The Seahawks advanced on Saturday with a 35-14 win over the Washington Redskins, who lost for the first time since the funeral of the late Sean Taylor.

Dallas, which tied a franchise record with 13 wins to secure the NFC's top seed, swept the season series against the Giants. The Cowboys posted a season-opening 45-35 win in Dallas, then recorded a 31-20 victory in Week 11 at the Giants Stadium.

The Giants joined the Colts, Patriots and Seahawks as the only teams making their third straight playoff appearances. In addition, Tom Coughlin joined Bill Parcells and Allie Sherman as the only Giants' coaches to guide the team to the postseason in three straight seasons.

Still, New York had not won a playoff game since routing the Minnesota Vikings, 41-0, in the 2001 NFC championship game and needed a postseason victory to shed its tag as under-achievers.

The Giants finally scaled that hurdle Sunday, winning their first playoff game in three attempts under Coughlin, whose decision to go all out last week against the Patriots now looks wise.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden rested his starters and the Buccaneers dropped their final two regular-season games after winning the NFC South title.

Eli Manning threw four touchdown passes in last week's 38-35 loss to the Patriots, who completed the first 16-0 regular season in NFL history, and the Giants carried that momentum into Sunday's contest.

New York spotted Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead, but roared back to extend its franchise-record road winning streak to eight games. The Giants have trailed in their last five wins.