Giants leaning on title pedigree as they kick off 2014

It might have slipped in there or it might have been a subtle and calculated reminder. Either way, it seems Eli Manning, as he looks ahead, wants to make sure no one forgets where he has been and what he has done.

As the Giants — so early out of the gate in preseason and so late out of the chute in the regular season — finally open up Monday night against the Lions inside Ford Field, it is difficult to wipe from the memory banks the summer performance bordering on inept put forth by Manning and his starting offensive unit. Up went the alarm and down went the already lowered expectations, and now you have a fan base in full “We’re not gonna be any good’’ mode.

To that, Manning applies some balm to the affected area.

“Just say it’s preseason,’’ Manning said. “I don’t remember how our preseason was in our championship years, and I think after a couple games people won’t be talking about the preseason.’’

Four words — “in our championship years’’ — to remind everyone he’s not some rube fumbling with the keys to first-year offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s new offense. All the negative vibes can be blown away if Manning and his remade group — six of the 11 starters are new — take it to the Lions and their solid defensive line and suspect secondary. The Giants have not won a season opener since 2010, losing three straight. Last season spun out of control as one loss begot another until 0-6 put the entire organization into a state of despair and disbelief. If the Giants are 1-0 come midnight in Motown, the sky will be intact.

“I think that means everything,’’ safety Antrel Rolle said. “That means everything, especially with the season that we had last year, we got off to a horrible start. We just want to make sure we’re not repeat offenders. Go out there and get off to a great start and just play hard-nosed football.’’

The Giants have to wait out the opening weekend of football before hitting the field, playing a game that counts after a bloated five-game preseason schedule, a full 50 days after reporting to training camp.

“It has not felt long,’’ said Tom Coughlin, embarking on his 11th year as the Giants head coach. “I said from the very beginning that I was going to look at it as a positive. We had the extra week — good. Hopefully we’ll be on our game on Monday night.’’

Marquee matchup

Lions RB Reggie Bush vs. Giants LB Jon Beason

Of course this isn’t a one-on-one battle, but Beason spearheads the entire defense, and Bush is a versatile two-way threat who might be more dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield than he is getting it handed to him. Beason missed virtually everything this summer with a foot injury, and he has to quickly shake off the rust and get his eyes right to make sure the flow of bodies surrounds Bush, or else he can take it a long way. With Beason back on the field, Jameel McClain moves back to an outside linebacker role, and in his Giants debut he’s expected to reveal himself as another smart, ball-seeking leader. Last season, the Giants did an outstanding job bottling up Bush, but were not nearly as effective against Joique Bell, another dual run and receiving weapon. Beason says he wants to play the entire game, but it remains to be seen if his healed right foot can withstand three hours of pounding on the unforgiving artificial turf.

What’s up front that counts

No one in the preseason had anything good to say about the Giants’ offensive line, and last season’s Achilles’ heel heads into a new year as the main concern all over again. Three-fifths of the line is new as the interior has been revamped, with right tackle Justin Pugh and left tackle Will Beatty (coming off a broken leg and lots of rotten play in 2013 ) returning. The strengths of the Lions’ defensive push is up the middle with tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, and it is highly questionable the Giants can hold up here. Former Broncos starter J.D. Walton hasn’t played in an NFL game since early in the 2012 season and makes his Giants debut at center, but all eyes will be on rookie Weston Richburg at left guard in his first NFL action.

“We got the light on us,’’ Pugh said.

Secondary is primary

The recipe for success for the Giants on defense during their most recent Super Bowl runs was easy to detect: great pressure up front from the four-man line, not a heavy dose of blitzing and just enough coverage from the adequate but not great defensive backfield. It’s likely the scenario this season will be reversed. The secondary has been fortified with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond III at cornerback and the return (after missing the entire 2013 season) of Stevie Brown at free safety. Add in Antrel Rolle and Prince Amukamara and it’s an athletic and experienced group on the back end — exactly what’s needed against Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Kevin Ogletree, Brandon Pettigrew, Joseph Fauria and rookie Eric Ebron.

Believe or bereave

This is the start of Eli Manning’s 11th season, and doubters and skeptics are everywhere. Manning is 33, still looks boyish and shows no sign of physical decline. But he is no longer mentioned in the same sentence with the league’s top quarterbacks. Lions coach Jim Caldwell is something of a Manning expert, as he was the quarterbacks coach with the Colts during Peyton Manning’s reign and later the head coach in Indianapolis. Caldwell is wary of Eli.

“I happen to know a bit about his family,’’ Caldwell said. “I know one thing, and that is you better prepare for him just like you would anybody else that is as talented as him. He can hurt you.’’

Come one, call all

These are not the Giants of yesteryear. There are 21 new players on the roster, a turnover of nearly 40 percent. That’s high. There are 11 players expected to start vs. the Lions who either weren’t with the Giants or weren’t starters last season. The newness doesn’t mean this is a team loaded with inexperience. This is the debut in blue for so many newly signed veterans such as running back Rashad Jennings, tight end Daniel Fells, defensive end Robert Ayers, safety Quintin Demps, cornerback Zack Bowman plus McClain, Rodgers-Cromartie, Walton and Thurmond. It was an uncharacteristic offseason spending spree by general manager Jerry Reese. Now we get to see how impressive it turns out to be in the real season.

Paul’s pick

Get the feeling the Giants are going to have to come up big, big, big on defense with turnovers, and maybe even points off turnovers, to escape this one with a victory. After Victor Cruz, who else puts any doubt in the minds of Detroit’s defense? Hmm? Still waiting.

Lions 27, Giants 16