EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The first time Eli Manning faced the division-rival Dallas Cowboys was 14 years ago in Week 17. It was the final game of Tiki Barber’s accomplished New York Giants career, and Vinny Testaverde was the 42-year-old starting quarterback for the Cowboys.
Manning was on the other end of the spectrum. He was a rookie one day shy of his 24th birthday that January afternoon when he led a late-game-winning drive to earn his first career victory as a starting quarterback. It set the stage for what would become a legendary career that includes two Super Bowl MVPs.