Giants at Cowboys: New York gives ball away on first three possessions

There are many expectations on New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning to improve on what turned out to be a down year, when he passed for nearly 1000 less yards than his career high of 4,933 in the Super Bowl season of 2011.

If his first three drives are any indication, he and his team in for a long season.

After a game-opening touchback that put them at their own 20, Manning proceeded to step up in the pocket and throw an interception to DeMarcus Ware–literally right into the hands of the Dallas quarterback. Fortunately for the Cowboys, it resulted in only a field goal and a 3-0 lead.

It looked like Manning had stored the bad pass away in his memory and, on the second series of the night for New York, drove the Giants into the red zone. But, in a familiar sight to Big Blue fans, David Nelson was stripped of the ball (remember last year?), and the 2nd year player fumbled it away to the Cowboys.

Two drives, two giveaways. But wait; there’s more. On the third offensive drive of the game, Manning was intercepted again–this time by Will Allen at the Dallas 35, and the safety returned it 13 yards to the 48. Three drives, three giveaways.

Not a good start at all for a team that was looking up to the resurgent Washington Redskins and finished out of the playoffs a year after they won the Super Bowl. I’m not a superstitious person, but Giants fans, I’m sure, are aware that a team has never played in the Big Game in the same year they’ve hosted it.