East Rutherford, N.J. ? The glare of the spotlight that has followed every move of Eli Manning’s blossoming NFL career is about to get much brighter.

Today’s wild-card game against the Carolina Panthers at Giants Stadium will be the latest milestone for the younger and (so far) less-accomplished quarterback of the Manning family, following his first victory, first 300-yard passing game and first NFC East title.

Manning admitted last week that after the Giants’ 6-10 finish last season he sat home and watched the playoffs – and older brother Peyton and the Indianapolis Colts – with a more discerning eye than he did when he was a youngster.

A season later – and ahead of schedule in the eyes of many – he will be at center stage for the Giants’ first home playoff game since a 41-0 rout of Minnesota in the 2000 NFC championship game.

“I think you have to go out and experience it,” Manning said. “I don’t know if it helps talking to the players who have played in the playoffs before. I think it’s just a matter of going out and trying to play the game. When you get to the playoffs and you’re playing against good teams, it’s a matter of who’s going to make the mistake, who’s going to make the costly plays that are going to win or lose a game.”

In direct contrast to Manning is Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme, a veteran of the Panthers’ run to the Super Bowl in 2003. Delhomme, a fellow native of Louisiana, also happens to be a longtime friend of Peyton Manning’s who once was a counselor at a quarterbacks’ camp Eli attended.

Both quarterbacks have their favorite targets. Steve Smith (103 catches for a league-leading 1,563 yards) has been Delhomme’s receiver of choice by a wide margin: running back DeShaun Foster is second on the team in receptions with 34, and wide receiver Ricky Proehl had 25.

Manning has been more egalitarian in the distribution of his passes.

Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress leads the team with 76 catches, jut two off his career best, but Manning spread the ball around effectively in the second half of the season to tight end Jeremy Shockey (65) and Amani Toomer (60).