EAST RUTHERFORD http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dexter-lawrence-jersey , N.J. (AP) — Manning since the bye week.After opening with a 1-7 record, Pat Shurmur’s team has won four of five by doing all the little things that make a quarterback look good.The offensive line, which was much maligned before the bye, has been reshaped and is protecting the two-time Super Bowl MVP better while opening holes for sensational rookie halfback Saquon Barkley to show his skills.The defense has forced 12 turnovers in the five-game span, including 11 interceptions. And the pass rush, nonexistent much of the season, has 10 sacks in the last two games after getting 14 in the first 11.Put it all together and the Giants (5-8) still have a slim shot at making the playoffs heading into Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium against the Tennessee Titans (7-6).All the talk about this being the 37-year-old Manning’s final season as the starter also has died down. It actually looks like he can be the starter for a few more years.Manning said Wednesday the biggest difference since the bye has been the Giants’ ability to run the ball. Barkley has rushed for at least 100 yards in the past four games, capped by a career-best 170 yards on 14 carries in the 40-16 win over Washington on Sunday.“Just an emphasis on running the ball, the play-action,” Manning said. “A lot more under center. Not as much shotgun. Not as much seven-step drop. Just having everything built off the run game.”The success of the run has allowed Manning to cut back on his passes. The fewest he threw in the first eight games was 29 in a win over Houston. In the other seven, he put the ball in the air between 36 and 47 times.In the current span, he has averaged 28.6 passes, with the highest total being 37 against Philadelphia, the only loss since the bye.Manning said making fewer throws doesn’t reduce the pressure.“You just want to go out there and do your job” Manning said. “We got to throw the ball. We got to throw it well. We got to run the ball. When you can do both, and depending on what the defense is doing http://www.arizonacardinalsteamonline.com/zach-allen-jersey , we can just adjust a little bit easier.”The offensive line has been a big plus in the past month. It allowed 31 sacks in the first eight games. Since adding Jamon Brown at right guard and Spencer Pulley at center a few weeks before that, the unit has allowed 12 sacks.“Just being able to fire off and get that run game going, it can help all the play-actions,” Manning said. “We’re not in as many third downs for any obvious passing downs as we were early on, where the defense kind of can have a little bit of an advantage.”Left tackle Nate Solder said the line, which includes rookie Will Hernandez at left guard and second-year pro Chad Wheeler at right tackle, has developed chemistry. Wheeler is the only current starting lineman who was with the Giants last season.“We kind of know what to expect from each other,” Solder said. “We believe in each other. I guess that’s settling in as much as you can, knowing what the coaches are asking of us, being able to do it multiple times consecutively, successfully. …I think all those kind of contribute to that settling in.”The result this past weekend was Manning experienced something he has not felt in a while. He got to watch rookie Kyle Lauletta play in the fourth quarter with New York ahead 40-0 despite being without top receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (quadriceps).“I guess you’re happy to be out there when you’re winning and you got a lead, and let the rookie get in there and play some,” Manning said. “Rooting for him to do well. It’s fun to cheer on your guys, and when you have a big lead, it’s a good feeling.”NOTES: After Shurmur said Beckham would not practice Wednesday Cullen Gillaspia Jersey , he took part on a limited basis. He looked fine in the individual portion of the workout. … TE Rhett Ellison (ankle) did not practice. … Defensive captain and safety Landon Collins had surgery Tuesday to repair a partially torn labrum. He was injured against Chicago on Dec. 2. He was placed on injured reserve last week. Andrew Luck started Sunday by carving up Jacksonville’s staunch defense.He finished it by playing the eager spectator.After throwing three first-half touchdown passes and picking up only two first downs in the second half, he celebrated when the Indianapolis Colts‘ defense delivered the decisive turnover with 90 seconds left to preserve a 29-26 victory over the Jaguars.“We played well enough in the first half to put some points on the board,” Luck said. “Then we survived.”Barely survived, that is.Trailing by three, Jacksonville quickly marched from its 42-yard line into field goal range, and when Rashad Greene Sr. went down at the Colts’ 23, it looked like the Jaguars were already set up for at least a tying field goal. Initially, Greene was ruled down before the ball squirted out.But just before the Jags (3-6) ran the next play, the whistles blew for a booth review. A few minutes later, the call was overturned, giving the ball and the game to the Colts, who have won three straight for the first time in three years.“I thought we got the play off, but obviously, we didn’t,” Jags coach Doug Marrone said before elaborating later. “Personally Rock Ya-Sin Jersey , I thought it wasn’t a fumble. But I see what everybody sees from the sideline.”Last year’s AFC runner-ups were a popular preseason pick to dethrone New England. Instead, the Jags have lost five straight, six of seven and are last in the division.And they don’t get more painful than this.Jacksonville had an extra point blocked and nearly returned for a 2-point conversion in the first half.Two 15-yard penalties helped Indy score its fourth touchdown, a 1-yard pass from Luck to Mo Alie-Cox late in the second quarter. An offside call on the ensuing extra point prompted coach Frank Reich to go for two, which Marlon Mack punched it in to make it 29-13.Jacksonville kicker Josh Lambo missed his first field goal of the season, a 52-yarder, wide left in the third quarter but then made a 55-yarder to cut the deficit to three with 4:03 left.Finally, Kenny Moore III sealed the Jags’ fate by ripping the ball away from Greene just before his leg went down and Malik Hooker scooped it up.“Offensively we’re looking to improve, put that thing away,” Reich said. “But make no mistake about it: This was a huge win for us.”Luck started fast, hooking up with Eric Ebron on a 53-yard TD pass seven plays into the game.After Donte Moncrief tied it on an 80-yard scoring play, Ebron answered with a 2-yard TD run to make it 14-7. Luck connected with Ebron again on a 12-yard TD pass, giving the tight end a career-high third score with 9:19 left in the first half.Luck finished 21 of 29 with 285 yards, one interception and was not sacked.Blake Bortles was 26 of 38 with 320 yards and two TD passes while Leonard Fournette had 53 yards rushing, 56 yards receiving and his first two scores of the season — one on the ground http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/ben-banogu-jersey , one through the air.It just wasn’t enough.“It’s a good defense, a lot of respect for that defense,” Luck said. “We certainly weren’t sharp enough.”INJURY REPORTJaguars: Center Brandon Linder and offensive tackle Ereck Flowers both left in the third quarter with knee injuries.Colts: Defensive end Carroll Phillips left in the first half with an injured groin. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart left with an injured ankle in the fourth quarter. Neither returned.AUTOMATIC ADAMThe Colts honored the NFL’s new career scoring leader, Adam Vinatieri, before the game with a brief highlight film and the distinction of being the last starter introduced to the crowd, which roared.Vinatieri responded by waving to the crowd and slapping hands with some fans on the field. Then he added three more points to his record-breaking total (2,553) before missing a 52-yard attempt wide right with 2:58 left in the game.He also tied George Blanda for the most regular-season wins in league history (209).STAT PACKJaguars: Fournette had 29 touches, 24 carries and five receptions, in his third game this season. … Punter Logan Cooke completed a 4-yard pass on a fake field goal, which kept the Jags’ 17-play drive alive to open the second half. The drive ended with Fournette’s 1-yard TD catch.Colts: Ebron finished with three catches for 69 yards. … Jack Doyle and Alie-Cox, Indy’s other two tight ends, combined for five catches and 64 yards. … Rookie Jordan Wilkins broke free for Indy’s longest run of the season (53 yards) in the first half.UP NEXTJaguars: Jacksonville can snap its losing streak next Sunday when it hosts Pittsburgh.Colts: Could get back into the AFC South race by beating Tennessee at home next Sunday.
