For a day, at least, nothing bad to say about Manning, Coughlin

TAMPA, Fla. -- They have both been human shish-kebabs, cooked to well done over searing coals, the heat seemingly never ending for either.

Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning. They are linked together through the misery of dealing with the New York media, their playoff failures of the past two seasons and the giant-size bull's-eyes on their backs as coach and quarterback of the New York Giants.

Call them the U-Haul twins, Big Apple fans and media always screaming for both to get of town.

Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin won't have to answer any questions about playoff futility this week. (Getty Images)

That's why Sunday's 24-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium was so sweet for them. It was their validation, their first playoff victory with the Giants.

Neither would ever admit it -- not with bigger things ahead -- but you can bet a part of them felt like shooting all the doubters, all the haters, a big, fat, one-fingered peace sign.

And, no, that isn't being nice. But after what they have been through, what do you expect?

Coughlin and his rigid ways have led him to the brink of the firing line. Players ripped him. Tiki Barber hated him. Some critics said he was too emotional and inflexible.

Manning, he of the first family of the NFL and the first player drafted in 2004, has been considered too lackadaisical to be like his older brother. Those goofy faces he makes during games led to many saying he didn't care enough, didn't work hard enough.

"That's a huge fallacy," one Giants coach said Sunday.

Yet it's a reputation that lingers. It's why many critics overlook the fact he has thrown 71 touchdown passes the past three seasons and instead focus on the 55 interceptions.

Is that too many picks? You bet. But it's also because he's playing on an offense without a real speed threat or great tackles. That makes it tough to stand in the pocket and make throws down the field, which is why the turnovers come.

They didn't Sunday. Manning completed 20 of 27 passes for 185 yards, two scores and no interceptions. The numbers don't do his game justice. He often pulled down passes as he readied to throw, only to reload and find a receiver who was open.

Asked what Manning did well Sunday, Coughlin said, "Manage the game and not turn the ball over."