SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ There have been some unforgettable memories for Eli Manning on his trips to face the 49ers on the west coast.
A 24-6 win at Candlestick Park in 2005, just the second road win over his career. A 26-3 win at the 'Stick in 2012. And, of course, that 20-17 overtime win in the NFC Championship Game of the 2011 playoffs, when he took a beating at the hands of the 49ers' defense yet still led the Giants to a second Super Bowl appearance and set up his eventual MVP performance against the Patriots.
"That's where I have some good memories early on," Manning said. "Playing games out there, so yeah, I have a lot of good memories. That playoff win stands out the most. Playoff wins always stick around the most, so that was a pretty special one."
It has been a long time since those days, and the Niners no longer play at the venerable home of their five Super Bowl championships under Bill Walsh and George Seifert. Manning went into Monday night's game against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium barely hanging on to his job after a 1-7 start and wondering about his future.
There were no assurances given to him by coach Pat Shurmur beyond Monday's game, leaving Manning's future hanging in the balance. Undaunted by the outside noise, Manning was taking a positive approach to his latest opportunity.
"Hopefully we can get some good moments this week," Manning said.
Manning entered the game with just eight touchdown passes. The Giants had hoped Manning still had enough good football left and took a win-now approach to building the roster in the offseason. But the results have been simply brutal, thanks in part to a woeful offensive line that has been unable to adequately protect Manning and some signs of slippage from the quarterback himself.
But if Manning's days are numbered because of the Giants' eventual and inevitable switch to a different quarterback, possibly sometime this season, his detractors did not include the 49ers.
"I understand the stuff he's going through this year, but Eli can still play at a very high level," Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He can still make every throw, he's had a Hall of Fame career, and I know he can still get it done and he's put it on tape this year. I know they haven't totally found their rhythm offensively, but there's times where they can heat up and if you don't make Eli uncomfortable and get their rhythm off, he still has the capability of being Eli, making every single throw and putting up a lot of points and a lot of yards."
There was some vintage Manning early on Monday night, as he benefited from a rare defensive turnover to set up deep in 49ers' territory. On third down from the Niners' 10, Manning bought some time in the pocket and found Odell Beckham Jr. open in the end zone to his left. He fired a dart that Beckham caught to give the Giants a 7-3 lead.
"I still think Eli has great arm strength," 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. "I still think he can throw the ball with great accuracy. The reality is that when you watch the tape, they're a very talented offense. They're just a few plays from really clicking."
Saleh is being kind in saying that the Giants are just a few plays away from really clicking, because 1-7 teams are many, many plays away from clicking. Unfortunately for Manning, there have been too many instances in which he has failed to play well enough.
He isn't the quarterback he once was, the player who once put together some stirring performances on the road against the 49ers. At 37 and on a team that's now in full rebuild mode, he doesn't know how much longer he'll continue to get those chances.
Or whether Monday night would be his last.
