WATCH: Eli Manning hilariously rips Halloween mask off following first Monday Night Football possession

Eli Manning tried to get in the Halloween spirit for Monday night’s Manningcast of the Browns-Bengals matchup on ESPN2, as he arrived wearing a mask for the start of the game.

Many began to wonder if the act would go on for the entire broadcast, and Manning appeared at first to be committed to keeping it on at least for the opening possession. Early in the first quarter, however, he was clearly beginning to get uncomfortable underneath the mask.

“I’ve never wanted for someone to have to punt sooner in a game so I can get out of the mask,” Eli confessed to his brother, Peyton Manning. “I’m usually rooting for the offense and long drives, opening drives.”

“I think you can take it off,” Peyton joked back. “I don’t think anybody’s gonna complain.”

That was all the green light that Eli needed, as moments later he ripped off the mask and finally allowed himself to breathe.

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Eli just needed the mask off ASAP 😂 pic.twitter.com/oTK4s98oCl

— ESPN (@espn) November 1, 2022

Of course, Peyton was there for another joke immediately after.

“Now people will tune back in hopefully,” he quipped.

Eli wasn’t alone in showing up wearing a Halloween costume, however. Peyton also showed up dressed in a referee’s jersey, which he revealed was signed by NFL ref Clete Blakeman, whom the two brothers have joked about on the Manningcast before for wearing a tight shirt.

“If you recall in Week 1 I was getting on Clete Blakeman, the head NFL referee, about this small, tight jersey he had on,” Peyton said. “Clete mailed me a jersey and autographed it on the back actually. I wanted to give a little shoutout to all referees. They take a lot of hear each week. Wanted to show that we support NFL referees. It’s a boys medium. It is a little snug, but that’s what I’m going with tonight.”