FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 22nd, 2016
“FOOTBALL NIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA” INCLUDES FEATURE ON NEW YORK GIANTS QB ELI MANNING
“This team has some similarities to our Super Bowl winning teams, just with the ability to win close games.” – Manning on the 2016 Giants
“Any time you play in Philadelphia, it’s going to be a rowdy crowd. You’ve got to enjoy those situations and that opportunity to try to silence the crowd.” – Manning on playing in Philadelphia
Bob Costas, Tony Dungy & Rodney Harrison on Location for Football Night in Philadelphia Pregame Show Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC
STAMFORD, Conn. – December 22, 2016 – Thursday Night Football on NBC continues tonight as Eli Manning and the New York Giants (10-4) aim to clinch a playoff berth with a win at Lincoln Financial Field against Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles (5-9). Pre-game coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC with Football Night in Philadelphia, and will include a feature on Giants QB Eli Manning, who discusses the 2016 Giants and playing games in Philadelphia.
In addition, tonight’s pre-game show highlights the inspirational story of 12-year-old New York Giants fan Deven Jackson, who despite losing both his legs to a bacterial meningitis infection, has shown the world he can still be a Giant.
Bob Costas serves as the host of the Football Night in Philadelphia pregame show from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. He will be joined on-site by Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy and two-time Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrison.
INTERVIEW: Below are excerpts from Manning’s feature. If used, please note the mandatory credit: “In an exclusive interview airing tonight on Football Night in Philadelphia.”
ELI MANNING IN HIS OWN WORDS
On how this year’s team compares to prior Giants’ Super Bowl winning teams: “This team has some similarities to our Super Bowl winning teams, just with the ability to win close games. I think that’s what good teams do.”
On Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.: “Odell is a very passionate person. He wants to be great. He practices that way, and he plays in the games with great passion. He’s an extremely explosive player. As a quarterback, you understand if you can throw an accurate pass to him and hit him in stride, there’s a great chance that can lead to touchdowns. And you also know throwing a five-yard pass can lead to 70-yard touchdowns very quickly.”
On playing in Philadelphia: “I have a lot of fond memories of playing in Philadelphia. One that sticks out is when we were down big in ‘06 or ‘05 (Trailed by 17 points entering the fourth quarter in Week 2 of 2006), and came back in the fourth quarter, and ended up hitting Plaxico Burress on a (31-yard) touchdown in overtime to win the game.”
On the atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field: “Any time you play in Philadelphia, it’s going to be a rowdy crowd. You know it’s going to be a packed stadium. It’s going to be loud. The fans are going to be all over you, but you’ve got to enjoy those situations and that opportunity to try to silence the crowd.”
Coverage of tonight’s game will also be simulcast on NFL Network and live streamed on NBCSports.com (desktops), the NBC Sports app (tablets and connected TVs), Twitter, NFL Mobile from Verizon, Watch NFL Network, and NFL Game Pass (International).
–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA–
