We Have A Quarterback!!!

That's what a fan told me after today's incredible win over the Giants. That's the voicemail message a buddy left for me after the game. That was the general feeling of Giants fans as we left the stadium last night. It's a feeling Giants fans haven't felt since Phil Simms was cut after the 1993 season. The feeling that you always have a chance at the end of the game no matter how badly your team has been outplayed in the game. The feeling that, if your team has the ball last, you'll pull it out.

We have a quarterback.

And it's a good thing that Eli bailed out the defense because Giants Stadium was about round up the defense and hang them by their toenails on an overpass on the Jersey Turnpike. The Giants were thoroughly outplayed for three and a half quarters. The 23-10 score wasn't indicative of how the Broncos were taking the Giants lunch money and making them watch as they made out with their girlfriends.

That was until Eli made his move in the fourth quarter. He drove the Giants 65 yards to cut the Denver lead to 23-17. The defense, realizing that they had a QB that could win this thing, finally developed a spine and picked up Eli after he was intercepted by Champ Bailey. The Broncos had to punt after a quick three and out and that gave the G-Men the ball on the 17 yard line.

That's when Eli made the league take notice.

He drove Big Blue down the field and with five ticks on the clock, backpedaled/rolled out and calmly threw a TD pass to Amani Toomer to win the game.

Giants fans, who look forward to their own version of the Trail Of Tears when they try and exodus the stadium after every home game, cried tears of joy as they left the swamp Sunday evening. Hugging and high-fiving anyone wearing Big Blue.

Broncos fans left wondering what football gods did they offend to be forced to be subjected to a loss like that one.

That's what franchise QB's do for a team and a franchise. No matter how flawed your team is, you always think you have a chance to win as long as he's back under center.
Look at some of the mediocre teams that Dan Marino and John Elway took to the playoffs over the years. Look at what Tom Brady is doing with the Pats. His tailback is banged up, his defense is so awful that they're expecting a guy who had a stroke in February to give them a boost. Yet he's keeping this team afloat. The Giants defense is even worse than their numbers suggest. If not for the turnovers they forced, this team would probably have given up 40 points a game. But Manning and his boys find a way to get it done at the end.

I'm not comparing Eli yet any of the aforementioned QBs. But he's giving Giants the same sort of hope that those QBs teams/fans had over the years. He's giving us what we hope will be commonplace in future. I don't know how good this kid will be. But I know that, barring any future injuries, this kid has a chance to keep the Giants relevant for a long time to come.

We have a quarterback!!!!