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The Most Important GIF from the NFL's Opening Week

Poor Eli Manning is so awkward and dopey. But incredibly coachable.

Yes, we still have two games to clear before calling it a wrap on the opening week of the NFL season, but Eli Manning put on such a winning performance yesterday we feel confident making this call. Fresh off a 207-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 20-19 comeback win against the rival Cowboys, Eli awkwardly strutted through American homes mouthing a "Whoa-oh-oh-ohhh" chant featured in NBC's new Sunday Night Football theme song.

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The nice thing about Eli is that he seems like a normal person, like you or me, and does not generally appear to enjoy being at the center of attention. Plenty of other people do, and that is nice, too, but when you put a person like Eli front and center you get this goofy-ass swagger and confused-looking lip sync routine. He's not fully committed because he knows in the back of his head that what he is being asked to do is ridiculous, but here he is anyway. Contrast him with how comfortable and natural the guys in the background look—namely Russell Wilson and Antonio Brown—and you really see how little Eli is cut out for something like this. As Wilson points to the camera and Brown's smile lights up the screen, Eli stiffly walks offscreen shaking his head, wondering how he found himself in this position.

This is a fine example of what makes him a good quarterback, though. He appears very coachable and willing to please, even for things he's not quite sold on. You want me to do what? Yeah, OK, I guess I can do that.

[NBC]