Vikings will miss not facing Eli Manning this Sunday

Giants coach Pat Shurmur didn’t mince words this week when a Twin Cities reporter asked how the guy he benched two weeks ago will be remembered when his playing career ends.

“Right now, he’s the most iconic player to ever play for our franchise,” the former Vikings offensive coordinator said of quarterback Eli Manning, who sat behind rookie Daniel Jones the past two weeks as the Giants won consecutive games to reach 2-2 heading into Sunday’s game against the Vikings at MetLife Stadium.

The Vikings are quietly mourning the benching of their personal punching bag the past 15 years. In nine games against the Vikings, Manning is 3-6 with a 54.3 completion percentage, five touchdowns, 15…