EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – By the time Eli Manning threw his third interception of the day, only a few scattered fans were left to boo.

Everyone else had seen enough.

Manning put together his worst performance of the season in a 23-0 debacle against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, showing how far he has to go to lead the Giants deep into the playoffs. In his first postseason appearance, Manning completed 10 of 18 passes for 113 yards, lost a fumble and tossed the three interceptions.

“Anybody that likes the Giants that would have said in August they wouldn’t take 11 regular-season wins, I think they’d be lying,” said his father, Archie, after the game. “You get over this and you go back and reflect on your season and go rest your body and your mind, and then you go back to work and do all the things you need to become a better player.”

It was his worst performance since a 4-for-18, 27-yard outing against Baltimore in his rookie season. Two months ago against Minnesota, he threw four interceptions, but balanced that by throwing a touchdown pass and rallying the Giants in the fourth quarter of a 24-21 loss.

A rally was a distant dream against Carolina as the Giants never mounted anything resembling a sustained drive and failed to get past the Carolina 39.

“It is shocking,” Manning said. “We haven’t had a performance like this before. We’ve always found a way to move the ball and score points, and today we just couldn’t do anything. I wish I had a reason why. We’ve had bad games before where the next week you come in and work on something and hopefully get better, but this performance is one we’ll have to think about for the next several months.”

Manning wasn’t alone in his struggles. Tiki Barber was held to 41 yards on 13 carries after averaging more than 100 yards a game in the regular season. Plaxico Burress, the team’s leading receiver, didn’t catch a pass. In all, the Giants gained 132 yards, 230 below their average.

“That was not the way I wanted to come out and play,” Manning said. “It was disappointing, especially the way the offense played this season. We couldn’t hit any big plays or establish anything to build on. They did a good job, but I still didn’t protect the ball, and that’s what it comes down to in big games.”

Manning threw 24 touchdown passes this season but also threw 17 interceptions and displayed a tendency to throw into tight coverage. His first interception Sunday followed that script, as he rolled to his right deep in his own end and threw back across the field for wide receiver Amani Toomer.

Cornerback Ken Lucas was one of two defenders in the area, and he picked off the pass and returned it to the Giants 12. A play later, Steve Smith’s end-around gave the Panthers a 17-0 lead, which was more than enough to beat the Giants.

“I thought I could hit Toomer, but I had to move right and never saw the corner,” Manning said. “Just a bad decision. I couldn’t see the whole field long enough to see what was over there. I should have taken the sack, gone to the checkdown or do anything than throw it right there.”

Two more interceptions on the Giants’ next two possessions led to field goals by John Kasay to close out the scoring.

Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, who had a sack, said the game plan was to pressure Manning constantly.

“We got a couple hits on Eli early. I think that kind of rattled him,” Peppers said.

Jake Delhomme, in contrast, was 15-of-22 for 140 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers, the team he led to the Super Bowl two seasons ago. Experience seemed to count heavily on this day.

“He’s gonna be very good,” Delhomme said. “I’ve always known that. He’s just in his second year and when things start going bad for you, sometimes it just continues to go that way.”