Clutch Resume: Eli Manning’s top 10 career-defining moments

3. The road warriors stay hot in sub-freezing weather – January 20, 2008

In the 2007 NFC Championship game, Eli Manning showcased his ability to compete at a high level in this league by defeating Hall of Fame Quarterback Bret Favre at Lambeau Field. While playing on a snow-covered field in sub-freezing temperatures, Manning would defeat one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history during the Giants’ dominant 2007 playoff run.

At the start of game time, the temperature was registered at -1 degree Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -23 degrees Fahrenheit. To provide some perspective, the infamous “Ice Bowl” played at Lambeau Field in 1967 recorded sub-freezing temperatures as low as -15 degrees Fahrenheit with an average wind chill of -48 degrees Fahrenheit.

Following their divisional round victory over the Dallas Cowboys (for those of you want a list of El’s top 5 moments against Dallas, here you go), who had beaten them twice during the regular season, the Eli Manning-led Giants would look to continue their dominant play against the Green Bay Packers, who had defeated them soundly in their Week 2 matchup, 35 –13. The Giants would string together six wins following that Week 2 loss and continue their success against better teams.

In what was the young quarterbacks first real test of being able to handle the bright lights and crazed atmosphere of playoff football, Manning would complete the day 21-for-40 with 251 passing yards in the frigid weather, which featured eight separate scoring drives.

After a strong third quarter, following the half in which the Giants entered down 10-6, Manning would put his team up 20-17 to start the fourth quarter.

Thanks to his steady play and a strong defensive performance, the Giants’ would win 23-20 in overtime on a Lawrence Tynes 47-yard field goal, as Manning and the Giants knocked off the top ranked offense in the league that season.

Manning’s resilience against a talented Packer team and the harsh elements showcased another side of his competitiveness, as the Giants proved that night that neither they nor their young quarterback were to be denied that season.