When Eli Manning put his signature on the wall of the visiting locker room in Cowboys Stadium two years ago, it may have offended the tenants, but it was also somehow fitting.
In two career trips to Jerry Jones’ $1.2 billion palace, Manning has played like the building belongs to him.
There’s just something about that stadium — or trips to Dallas in general, or maybe it’s even just playing the Cowboys — that seems to bring out the best in the Giants’ quarterback. As he heads into another showdown down there on Sunday night, he’s 2-0 at Cowboys Stadium and 3-1 in his last four games in Dallas.
And in those two games at Cowboys Stadium, Manning has been brilliant, completing 68.5% of his passes (50 of 73) for 636 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.
“Playing Dallas is always a big game,” Manning said. “We know they’re talented. It’s on turf. It’s indoors. You always have good weather there. All those things make it good conditions for quarterbacks to go out and play well.”
Manning is 8-6 all time against one of the Giants’ biggest rivals, including his dramatic first NFL victory in the last game of the 2004 season and the Giants’ playoff win in Dallas on their way to Super Bowl XLII.
He’s won five of his last seven against the Cowboys. Last year the Giants split the two games, but even in the loss at home, Manning was 33 of 48 for 373 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Manning, of course, did his best to downplay his success in Dallas — which includes three 300-yard games in seven trips and two four-touchdown performances. He even suggested it won’t be nearly as easy now that the Cowboys have a new defensive coordinator in Rob Ryan.
Still, his teammates sense an air of confidence in their quarterback as they get ready for their biggest game of the year.
“I think it’s definitely a place where he feels comfortable and a team he’s faced a bunch,” said receiver Victor Cruz, who’ll be playing his first game in Dallas. “He just feels comfortable against them. And he’s excited just like we are to go down there and do some good things.”
“I don’t think it’s just the situation or scenario of being in Dallas, he’s confident of what he can do,” said linebacker Chase Blackburn. “And we’re all confident enough to rally around him.”
“I have the most confidence in Eli. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is,” said guard Chris Snee. “But I’d like a big game out of him this weekend for sure.”
