NFL: Manning; Giants win Super Bowl XLVI

They say sequels are never better than the originals but Super Bowl XLVI lived up to the height as Eli Manning and the New York Giants were crowned champions of the National Football League (NFL) once again.

Just like four years ago Manning lead the G-Men on a late scoring drive as for the second time in four years the New York Giants claimed the Vince Lombardi Trophy following a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots at Super Bowl XLVI played in Indianapolis on Sunday night.

Manning, who was later named the MVP of Super Bowl XLVI was instrumental in claiming his second Super Bowl ring and the Giants fourth in their franchise history after an epic encounter at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“This isn’t about one person,” said Manning, who completed 30 of 40 for 296 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions at his after match media conference. “This is about a team coming together.”

It certainly was as the Giants, who are the first team in the Super Bowl era to finish the regular season with a 9-7 record and win the Super Bowl just snuck into the playoffs in the first place.

Following their week 15 loss to the Washington Redskins the Giants who at stage were 7-7 had to win their final two games of the season against the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys and they did with the later clinching the NFC East.

Their head coach, Tom Coughlin who incidentally became the oldest coach ever to win the Super Bowl at the ripe old age of 65 was under pressure but managed to hold this team together as the Giants ended the season on a six-game winning streak culminating with a win over the Patriots, their second this season.

“It’s been a wild game,” Manning said after his Giants ensured the NFC Champions have now four of the last five Super Bowls. “It’s been a wild season.”

Remarkably this victory came in the house that older brother Peyton built and it also came against the same team that he beat in the season decider four years ago.

On that occasion Manning lead a late scoring drive which culminated in the game winning touchdown with just seconds remaining and in eerily similar circumstances the former number one draft pick did it once again.

With under four minutes remaining in the contest and his side trailing 17-15 Manning lead the Giants on a nine-play 88-yard drive which was capped off by tuning back Ahmad Bradshaw who scored the game winning touchdown, a six yard run.

But Bradshaw who attempted to stop himself at the one-yard line to prevent the Patriots from getting the ball back fell into the end zone and that gave Tom Brady one last chance for glory.

The Patriots quarterback who was sacked on the final drive and even completed a pass on fourth and 16 to keep the drive alive fell just short as his hail mary as the game expired was knocked down by the Giants defenders, just out of the reach of tight-end Rob Gronkowski.

Just like his opposite number Brady also played lights out as he completed 27 of 41 for 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and set a Super Bowl record for consecutive completions (16) midway through the game.

“Certainly it wasn’t one play that was the reason we lost,” a dejected Brady said after the game as his Patriots had their 10 game winning streak snapped. “Everybody feels they could do a little more. I’d rather come to this game and lose than not get here.”

And it could have been such a different result as well especially since the ‘football gods’ appeared to go against the Patriots.

Twice the Giants lost fumbles and on both occasions they recovered them and Brady threw the only interception in the game.

However the play that may haunt the Patriots and in particular star wide receiver Wes Welker for a long time came midway through the fourth quarter.

Brady had a chance to join the likes of his boyhood idol Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw with four rings as he drove the Patriots down the field for what looked like being the game winning drive.

But just as it looked as though Brady and co would secure their fourth Super Bowl title his wide receivers let him down as the ever so reliable Wes Welker dropped a pass that he would usually catch on the Giants 20-yard line.

The AFC Champions Patriots, who would have left little time for Eli and the Giants had Welker, caught the ball ended up punting the ball and giving it back to New York who took it down the field for the game winning score.

“It comes to the biggest moment of my life, and (I) don’t come up with it,” commented a clearly dejected Welker. “It’s one of those plays I’ve made a thousand times.”

Whilst Welker dropped a pass that didn’t happen on the opposition sidelines as wide receiver Mario Manningham made a spectacular catch on the next drive to set up the game winning drive.

Although outplayed by his team-mate in Hakeem Nicks (10 catches; 109 yards) Manningham made the play that will go down in Super Bowl folklore as he caught a beautifully thrown 38-yard pass by Manning who threaded the eye of the needle.

Manning threw the ball to a running Manningham right next to the sidelines and in between two defensive backs and the former Michigan man managed to get both foot down and maintain control of the ball as he went sprawling out of bounds.

The Manningham catch, whilst not as spectacular was similar to the unbelievable catch by David Tyree four years ago.

“I think they are both spectacular catches,” New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin exclaimed. “I think with Mario’s earlier tonight, the way he kept his feet inbounds and held onto the ball (while) going out of bounds was a remarkable thing.”

Incredibly that catch was made right in front of the Patriots sidelines and Tom Brady who once again saw his dream at his fourth Super Bowl shattered by the Giants.

Brady and the Patriots, in their fifth Super Bowl in the last 10 years got off to the worst start when the veteran quarterback was called for intentional grounding in his own zone which resulted in a safety.

Trailing 2-0 the first quarter was about to get worse for the Patriots as Manning drove the Giants down the field which ended with a two-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Victor Cruz as the NFC champions opened up a 9-0 lead.

However that would be the Giants last points until midway through the third quarter as Brady and the Patriots took over as first they registered a field goal before Brady lead his side down on a 96-yard drive (an equal Super Bowl record) which ended with a Danny Woodhead touchdown at the end of the first half.

New England lead 10-9 at the main break and extended that to 17-9 as man on a mission Brady continued to pluck apart the Giants defense as he lead his side on another long drive which ended in an Aaron Hernandez 12-yard touchdown to start the third quarter.

But to their credit the Giants dug deep and a pair of field goals saw that margin reduced to two points heading into the fourth quarter where Manning, who set all kinds of records this year in the fourth quarter did it again.