The New York Giants face the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night at Lucas Oil Field in a key Week Two match-up. But more importantly, it’s that time again, NFL fans – it will also be “Manning Bowl II,” as Eli and his brother Peyton square off for just the second time, and the first since 2006.
This is also only the second time ever in NFL history that had brothers starting at quarterbacks in the same game.
Here are a few things for viewers to look forward to:
- Expect to hear multiple references to how both Eli and Peyton have the same number of Super Bowl rings.
- Expect Eli to reference his “Amazing Catches” story about big brother Peyton in the pregame show yet again.
- Expect Archie Manning to be interviewed by every major sports television and radio outlet between now and kickoff.
- Don’t expect the proud Manning parents to state which team they are rooting for that night.
- The over/under on the number of times NBC cuts to a shot of Archie and Olivia in the stands: 63.
- Number of times NBC’s Al Michaels will mention the point spread and over/under line during the game: 1.
- Number of times that Colts’ head coach Jim Caldwell will be asked about possibility of resting his starters towards the end of an undefeated regular season: zero (thankfully)
- Expect Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin to throw the red replay flag to challenge a referee’s call – and be unsuccessful yet again.
Most importantly, let’s hope that it’s at least as good a game as the first “Manning Bowl,” which the Colts won 26-21 at the Meadowlands. Oh, and that the brothers are cordial to each other after the game and don’t fight. OK, at least we won’t have to worry about the latter one…
Used with permission of the author.
Chris Lardieri covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for Examiner.com and has written about Major League Baseball for Inside Edge, a scouting company that provides content to ESPN Insider and Yahoo Sports. He previously wrote for 1766, the Rutgers Alumni Magazine, and popular blog, ‘The Outer Loop’. Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter for more MLB and sports observations.
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