LANDOVER, Md. (AP) – The New York Giants caught 32 passes. Twenty-eight were thrown by Eli Manning, and four came from the arm of Kirk Cousins.
Manning is starting to find his rhythm in new coordinator Ben McAdoo’s offense, while Cousins is sinking fast as the placeholder for Robert Griffin III. Manning’s four touchdown passes equaled Cousins’ four interceptions Thursday night in the Giants’ 45-14 win over the Washington Redskins.
After struggling in his first two games, Manning has mastered enough of the West Coast dink-and-dunk to lead the Giants (2-2) to consecutive victories. He is supposed to complete 70 percent of his passes in this offense, and he surpassed that mark against the Redskins, going 28 for 39 – including three simple open-field drops – for 300 yards with one interception.
“When he’s locked in like that,” said Giants wideout Victor Cruz, who had six catches for 108 yards, “when he understands exactly what’s coming to him, when he’s throwing the ball all over the field and getting first downs as they come, moving the ball, I think it’s just indicative of how he sees the field and sees the game. And it was good to see him like that.”
Manning’s quarterback rating in the Giants’ first two games was 69.2. Since then, it’s 119.9.