Eli Manning REINSTATED as Giants' starting quarterback after being benched on Sunday and seeing his streak of 210 consecutive starts ended

With a pitiful 2-10 record, the Giants fired coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese on Monday after Manning was benched for Sunday's loss
Manning, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, had started every game since 2004
McAdoo originally gave Manning the option of starting Sunday’s game in Oakland in order to preserve the streak, but with the caveat that the two-time Super Bowl MVP would be removed in favor of backups Geno Smith and Davis Webb, whom McAdoo hoped to evaluate with an eye towards next season
Manning will start Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey against the Dallas Cowboys, who are 13-13 against the former top-overall pick in his career
In the week since Manning was benched, his jersey has gone from No. 50 to No. 29 on the Dicks Sporting Goods Jersey Report, which ranks top-selling jerseys

By Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:36 GMT, 5 December 2017 | Updated: 01:39 GMT, 6 December 2017

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New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning throws a pass during the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants lost 27-26, and would go on to win just two of the next eight games before Manning was benched in favor of Geno Smith last week

Less than a week after seeing his streak of 210 consecutive starts come to an end, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will be back in his familiar starting role again on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, a team source confirmed Tuesday.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo was the first to report the news.

Manning’s streak – which was the longest among active quarterbacks – was ended by now-former Giants coach Ben McAdoo, who was fired along with general manager Jerry Reese on Monday with the team mired in a disastrous 2-10 campaign.

McAdoo originally gave Manning the option of starting Sunday’s game in Oakland in order to preserve the streak, but with the caveat that the two-time Super Bowl MVP would be removed in favor of backups Geno Smith and Davis Webb, whom McAdoo hoped to evaluate with an eye towards next season.

Manning declined, saying that it would ‘tarnish’ his streak.

Now under interim coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was promoted from defensive coordinator on Monday and is considered a candidate to replace McAdoo, Manning will start for the 211th time in his career.

Fans hold up signs for New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and head coach Ben McAdoo during the first half of an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Giants

Manning started every Giants from November 21, 2004 when he replaced Kurt Warner in Week 10 of his rookie season, until Sunday, when he was benched in favor of Smith.

The former Ole Miss star has guided the Giants to two Super Bowl victories and is the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards (50,625), touchdown passes (334) and interceptions (222).

Despite the 2-9 record, Manning played relatively well for the Giants in 2017. He completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,411 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also posted a respectable quarterback rating of 84.1. Besides a host of injuries along the offensive line, Manning also lost top wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for the season, which limited his options significantly.

Smith completed 21 of 34 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown in place of Manning on Sunday. On Monday, apparently feeling the criticism from fans, Smith wrote on twitter: 'Hate is so familiar to me I'm slowly embracing it, doesn't come natural bear with me it could take a bit...'

Sunday will mark the 27th regular-season game for Manning against the Cowboys. He has a 13-13 record against his rival.

In the week since his benching, Manning's jersey has gone from No. 50 to No. 29 on the Dicks Sporting Goods Jersey Report, which ranks top-selling jerseys.

On Sunday, interim Giants coach Steve Spagnuolo (left) will try and help Eli Manning (getting sacked on the right) improve to 14-13 in his career against the Dallas Cowboys

Smith completed 21 of 34 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown in place of Manning

Eli Manning (center in a blazer) alongside other members of the Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants including (from the left) left guard Kevin Boothe, right guard Chris Snee, defensive end Dave Tollefson, long snapper Zak DeOssie, co-owner Steve Tisch, and running back Brandon Jacobs. The win was the franchise's fourth Super Bowl victory