Eli Manning knows the tall shadow that he casts on 1925 Giants Drive, where a plaque bearing his name is mounted permanently above his old locker. So, out of respect to current players, he doesn't want to be overbearing.
But you'd be foolish not to pick the brain of a two-time Super Bowl MVP when preparing for your first playoff game, especially doing so at the same position.
Daniel Jones is no fool. He went to Duke.
During Monday's Wild Card edition of the ManningCast, Manning revealed that he gave Jones a "little pep talk" – but only after the current signal-caller sought him out.
"With Daniel, I never reach out to Daniel. I told him, 'I'm always a resource for you. I'm here for you. I'm not going to be the annoying guy like calling you and telling you what you should do or shouldn't,'" Manning said as the Cowboys' 31-14 victory over Buccaneers neared the end. "But he reached out and was kind of like, 'Hey, first playoff game. Anything I need to know about?' And I said, 'Just play the way you've been playing. You don't all of a sudden get to the playoffs and say I've got to try to change something or do something new.' I said, 'You've been playing great all year.'"
View photos from the Giants' 31-24 Wild Card victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
New York Giants' Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Jaylon Smith stops Minnesota Vikings' Alexander Mattison during the first half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Adoree' Jackson stops Minnesota Vikings' Kirk Cousins during the first half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
New York Giants' Darius Slayton is stopped by Minnesota Vikings' Duke Shelley during the first half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
New York Giants' Isaiah Hodgins catches a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Daniel Jones thorws during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Daniel Jones runs during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Daniel Jones thorws during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Isaiah Hodgins catches a pass between Minnesota Vikings' Chandon Sullivan and Duke Shelley during the first half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
New York Giants' Isaiah Hodgins catches a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
New York Giants' Daniel Jones thorws during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Daniel Jones celebrates a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Adoree' Jackson stops Minnesota Vikings' Kirk Cousins during the first half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings' Harrison Phillips tries to stop New York Giants' Daniel Jones during the first half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
New York Giants' Daniel Jones runs during the first half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) in action during the first half of an NFL wild-card football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) in action during the first half of an NFL wild-card football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
New York Giants' Daniel Bellinger celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
New York Giants' Daniel Bellinger catches a touchdown pass from Daniel Jones during the second half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
New York Giants' Daniel Bellinger catches a topuchdown pass during the second half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Giants' Daniel Bellinger catches a topuchdown pass during the second half of an NFL wild card football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings' Eric Kendricks tackles New York Giants' Isaiah Hodgins during the second half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings' Jalen Reagor fumbles a punt as he is hit by New York Giants' Nick McCloud during the second half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
New York Giants' Saquon Barkley looks to get past Minnesota Vikings' Camryn Bynum during the second half of an NFL wild card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Jones then asked him about the old playoff cliché.
"He's like, 'What about the speed? Is it faster in the playoffs?' I'm like, 'That's just something people say because they've got to say something,'" Manning said. "The speed's the same. No one all of a sudden gets faster all of a sudden for this game. It's just if people are playing harder, you're going to play harder. If you have a third-and-five, you're going to lay out for that first down. People are just going to the whistle."
Message received, and now Jones is the first quarterback in NFL postseason history with at least 300 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and 70 rushing yards in a game. Most importantly, he got the win over the Vikings, setting up a Divisional Round matchup with the rival Eagles.
"It was fun," Manning said. "It was fun to watch that the other day, watch the Giants. And I'm excited for him. He's worked his tail off his last few years, and I'm excited for him to get that win."
