Many thought that Domenik Hixon or Hakeem Nicks would have to step up to fill in for Plaxico Burress' enormous shoes, but both went down with injury.
Enter: Mario Manningham.
Eli Manning was able to rely on Manningham 10 times throughout the game, ultimately leading to a game-winning field goal in some of the worst conditions most people will ever have to play in. The expression on Jerry Jones' face was priceless.
The most impressive thing about Manningham in the game against the Cowboys was the effort he put forth when the game was close (which was just about the entire time). His ability to stay focused made him seem like a veteran. One example of this was on his touchdown catch where he stuck with the ball after bobbling it. In addition, on his comeback routes, he really came back towards the quarterback to shed the defenders, fighting for the ball and the extra yardage.
But let's not take away what Steve Smith did too. He is definitely Eli Manning's most consistent receiver, and has stepped up where Amani Toomer left in the off-season. Many people don't realize that Manning relied on Toomer heavily on third down situations, which is where Steve Smith has shined. Smith also had 10 catches and over 100 yards receiving.
Eli Manning also looked a lot like his brother, notching his 12th 4th-quarter comeback in his career. Though Eli usually plays very well in his first 8 to 10 games of the season, it seems as though he has solidified himself as a veteran, and perhaps even an elite quarterback in the NFL.
The thing that I like most about the Giants current situation is that their upcoming schedule looks fairly soft. The play Tampa Bay next week (watch out for Carnell Williams!), then Kansas City and Oakland. If the Giants are able to win their next three games (which is not easy considering they're in the middle of a 3-game road trip), they'll be 2-0 in the division, 3-0 in the conference, and 5-0 overall. That will be very useful as their schedule gets harder.
