Nothing new came out of the New York Giants beating the New York Jets 35-24. Geno Smith was announced as the team’s starting quarterback, something everyone already knew, while Eli Manning continues to struggle in his new offense, with his team once again rallying back to preseason victory during garbage time with backups on the field.

Manning did throw his first touchdown of the preseason, which gives an indication that he might be getting a little more comfortable. Still, the starting offense (and defense for that matter) doesn’t look good or too confidence-inspiring. Manning finished with 12-of-21 for 139 yards and a touchdown pass to Reuben Randle. Manning left the game after two quarters, and Ryan Nassib did a good job with three touchdown passes.

Despite the win, Manning was once again sacked more often than Coughlin would had like to see, once by Muhammad Wilkerson and another time by Kyle Wilson. His incompletions were a combination of bad throws, bad route running and drops, which just goes to show that the Giants need a bit more time, maybe more than they actually have, in order to feel comfortable with their new offensive assignments.

Geno Smith is entering his second season in the NFL and it seems this preseason has been something of a stamp of approval on him moving forward from where he left off last season. He completed 9-of-14 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown, completing the score-pass to Jace Amaro. Michael Vick also got to play with the starters, throwing a touchdown pass to Eric Decker, but Vick was also sacked twice and fumbled one ball for a turnover.

This game alone wasn’t the decider. Smith has been getting most of the snaps in training camp, and Vick himself has said that it’s most likely that Smith will return as the starter. Despite throwing only 12 touchdown passes to 21 interceptions in his rookie season, he had a strong finish with three wins in four games, and that momentum has carried over into the 2014 preseason, showing he’s a lot more comfortable in the shoes of a starting NFL quarterback.

The Giants might have won bragging rights in MetLife stadium, winning yet another game against the Jets. However, this was yet another performance that doesn’t make Eli Manning look too good going into a season that is important for him individually following his terrible 2013 campaign which was about the offensive line falling apart and Manning looking like his interception problems are back to haunt him.

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