Listen, I have always been an “Eli is NOT elite” kinda guy. I understand he won two Super Bowls and I’m thankful for that, but he’s just never impressed me so much that I think he’s great.
At best, I’ll concede he’s above average.
But these past few years I’m found myself loyal to Eli… Why? Because he hasn’t done anything these past two years that warrant us firing him. He has one more year on his contract (2019) and I believe we should let him play that out.
If you disagree with me, check the numbers WITHOUT THE YEARS ASSOCIATED, and for arguments sake, I took out his rookie year since with only 9 games played (it didn’t make sense to look at his rookie half-season) and I sorted it by team wins:
| GP | Cmp | Att | CMP % | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | FUM | QBR | RAT | TEAM WINS |
| 16 | 289 | 479 | 60.3 | 3,238 | 6.76 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 63.2 | 86.4 | 12 |
| 16 | 294 | 557 | 52.8 | 3,762 | 6.75 | 24 | 17 | 7 | — | 75.9 | 11 |
| 16 | 377 | 598 | 63 | 4,027 | 6.73 | 26 | 16 | 7 | 49.3 | 86 | 11 |
| 16 | 297 | 529 | 56.1 | 3,336 | 6.31 | 23 | 20 | 9 | 54.6 | 73.9 | 10 |
| 16 | 339 | 539 | 62.9 | 4,002 | 7.43 | 31 | 25 | 5 | 61.1 | 85.3 | 10 |
| 16 | 359 | 589 | 61 | 4,933 | 8.38 | 29 | 16 | 6 | 64 | 92.9 | 9 |
| 16 | 321 | 536 | 59.9 | 3,948 | 7.37 | 26 | 15 | 4 | 67 | 87.2 | 9 |
| 16 | 301 | 522 | 57.7 | 3,244 | 6.22 | 24 | 18 | 7 | 52.3 | 77 | 8 |
| 16 | 317 | 509 | 62.3 | 4,021 | 7.9 | 27 | 14 | 9 | 69.8 | 93.1 | 8 |
| 16 | 317 | 551 | 57.5 | 3,818 | 6.93 | 18 | 27 | 4 | 39.3 | 69.4 | 7 |
| 16 | 379 | 601 | 63.1 | 4,410 | 7.34 | 30 | 14 | 7 | 62.5 | 92.1 | 6 |
| 16 | 387 | 618 | 62.6 | 4,432 | 7.18 | 35 | 14 | 7 | 60.5 | 93.6 | 6 |
| 16 | 380 | 576 | 66 | 4,299 | 7.46 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 51.2 | 92.4 | 5 |
| 15 | 352 | 571 | 61.6 | 3,468 | 6.07 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 45.4 | 80.4 | 3 |
The years he had his most wins STATISTICALLY included some of his worst stats. When the Giants won 12 games, he threw for the LEAST yards in his career (2008 – the season AFTER the Super Bowl). You’ll see in one of the seasons we won 11 games, Eli had a career worst completion percentage at 52.8% (that was 2005).
And on the flipside, when the Giants had just 5 wins (this past season in 2018), Eli had a CAREER BEST 66% completion percentage! And in 2015 when we won only 6 games, Eli posted career highs in passer rating (RAT) and passing TD’s, and had his 2nd most yards thrown for!
What I am saying is that Eli has been high when we’ve been low, and he’s been low when we’ve been high.
Eli’s put up career highs (or damn near close) plenty of times in the last few years, and while that didn’t net us more W’s, it should buy him another year under center.
Unless the answer is CLEARLY there in June (it isn’t), I say we give #10 another season. After 2019 if he (or the team) decides that is his final year in New York, then so be it. We can sign a veteran QB on a 1-year deal in 2020 like we did in 2004 (Kurt Warner) to usher in our new savior. The 2020 QB class looks FLUSH with talent, and I am willing to see what Eli can do in 2019 as he sails off into the sunset.
We’ll be back better than ever in the fall, until then… POSITIVE VIBES ONLY!!!
NEW YEAR, NEW ME,
@WCS_Taylor