over taking chances downfield or giving the

[melting]

Manning launched a dart down the sideline to wide receiver Cody Latimer for a 43-yard gain on his first pass of the second half. Latimer made a one- handed grab, but Manning’s ability to fit the ball into a tight window was what made the play so impressive. It was Manning’s longest completion of the game to that point. The Giants’ play-calling on the final drive of the first half was a total head-scratcher. However, no play more-so than a five-yard completion over the middle to Sterling Shepard with :21 remaining with only one timeout left. For the sake of clock management, Shepard might have been better off batting the ball into the ground. Manning should have known better than to throw the ball over the middle of the field in that situation.

Manning lost a fumble on an ill-advised keeper off a play-action fake to Saquon Barkley on 4th-and 1 from the Cowboys’ seven-yard line with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter.Manning had a high completion percentage in the red zone, and threw a touchdown passes to Engram , but he also missed on several throws into the end zone and lost a fourth down fumble.If the barometer for Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is playing the quarterback who gives the Giants the best chance to win, it’s difficult to view Manning’s performance Sunday as reaching that mantle. In an offense that’s predicated on getting the ball out quickly and accurately, Manning failed consistently to be able to do that on screen passes intended to Barkley or tight end Evan Engram. His decision-making at times seemed geared towards improving his completion percentage over taking chances downfield or giving the offense a chance to sustain a drive.

In short, this was the same Manning that walked off the field following a Week 17 loss to the Cowboys in 2018. The biggest difference is that now, unlike then, the Giants have a viable replacement in No. 6 overall pick Daniel Jones looming on the bench. Manning will quickly need to play much better and more consistently to keep him there. But it could be getting late in Mannibg’s career as a starter. Jones made an appearance late in the fourth quarter.Here’s a look at how Manning graded out against the Cowboys:one of two games of the 233 in his career in which he did not start? — and it would be.