New York Giants QB Eli Manning: ‘I have to play better’

The New York Giants' defense kept the team in the game all day, but five Eli Manning interceptions proved costly in a 16-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

The New York Giants' defense kept the team in the game all day, but five Eli Manning interceptions proved costly in a 16-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

Afterward, Manning accepted responsibility for the Giants’ fifth straight loss.

“I’ve got to do better,” Manning told the New York Daily News. “I’ve got to make better decisions, better throws. They’re all on me. It’s nobody else’s fault. I’ve got to protect the ball and can’t afford to turn it over.”

A season after leading the NFL in interceptions with 27, Manning had done a solid job protecting the ball through New York’s first nine games, with only six picks in 321 attempts.

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He nearly doubled that total on Sunday, matching a career-high of five interceptions he set in a 23-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 15, 2013.

At 3-7, the Giants have their worst record through 10 games since 1998.

“The offensive preparation was good, we just have nothing to show for it,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “Now we’ve had a defensive fiasco, we’ve had an offensive fiasco.”

In addition to Manning's struggles, the Giants’ play-calling on their final possession against the 49ers has also been questioned. After three incomplete fade patterns, Manning tried to force a fourth-down pass to Preston Parker but the ball was deflected into the hands of rookie linebacker Chris Borland for his second interception of the day.

- Phil Watson