EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—After 162 regular-season games in the NFL, Eli Manning’s worst football should be behind him. Last season appeared to be rock bottom, as the Giants’ quarterback tossed a league-high 27 interceptions, including five in a loss to Seattle.  And for all of the Giants’ problems heading into Sunday’s loss to the visiting San Francisco 49ers—season-ending injuries to wideout Victor Cruz and cornerback Prince Amukamara,...  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—After 162 regular-season games in the NFL, Eli Manning ’s worst football should be behind him. Last season appeared to be rock bottom, as the Giants’ quarterback tossed a league-high 27 interceptions, including five in a loss to Seattle.  And for all of the Giants’ problems heading into Sunday’s loss to the visiting San Francisco 49ers—season-ending injuries to wideout Victor Cruz and cornerback Prince Amukamara, as well as the league’s lowest-rated defense—Manning was the biggest positive, tossing 17 touchdown passes against just six interceptions.  On Sunday, when his second career five-pick performance resulted in a 16-10 loss, he was practically the Giants’ only problem. “I’ve got to make better decisions, better throws,” Manning said. “They’re all on me; it’s nobody else’s fault. I’ve got to protect the ball and can’t afford to turn it over, especially a couple times in field-goal range.”  In his defense, Manning’s offensive line didn’t play well, particularly after right tackle Justin Pugh went down with quadriceps injury in the first half. And statistically, Manning has had worse games; back in 2004, for one, he registered a 0.0 quarterback rating in a 37-14 loss to Baltimore.  But until Sunday, when he completed 22 of 45 passes for 280 yards and a 36.6 rating, Manning had never been so toxic.  When tight end Larry Donnell’s leaping 30-yard reception put the Giants on San Francisco’s 35-yard line, Manning responded with an interception. When Josh Brown’s onside kick surprised the 49ers and resulted in a Giants’ first down near midfield, Manning responded with an interception. And when Odell Beckham Jr. defied gravity by hauling in a flying 37-yard sideline catch in the fourth quarter, Manning responded with his fifth and costliest pick of the day.  The potentially game-winning pass to Preston Parker was deflected before falling into the hands of 49ers linebacker Chris Borland. But that fact should not absolve Manning, who tossed three consecutive incompletions from the 4-yard line prior to the turnover.  Manning’s first pick, in the second quarter, was a poor read. He was trying squeeze a pass into Beckham before 49ers linebacker Chris Borland jumped the route. On the next drive, Manning saw a looming defender behind receiver Rueben Randle, but let go of the football anyway. “I tried to pull it back and couldn’t pull it back enough and it kind of slipped out and went to the linebacker,” he said.  But it wasn’t just the interceptions. Manning neglected open receivers on several plays, and overthrew others in big spots. He even put running back Rashad Jennings at risk with a check-down pass at the end of the third quarter. Fortunately for the defenseless Jennings, who was playing for the first time since spraining his knee in Week 5, the pass fell incomplete.  The 49ers deserve some credit for the way they pressured Manning, but his meek response shouldn’t have been a total surprise. Entering Sunday, Manning had completed just 35.6% of his passes when under pressure, ranking him below every qualifying quarterback besides former Jets starter Geno Smith, according to Pro Football Focus.  “It was obviously the accuracy issue,” Tom Coughlin said afterward. “He had great pressure and I don’t think anybody’s going to argue with that one.”
Eli Manning threw five interceptions and failed to capitalize on late opportunities as the Giants lost to the San Francisco 49ers 16-10. Was it his worst game as an NFL quarterback?