INDIANAPOLIS For the eighth time in their illustrious franchise history that now includes four Super Bowl victories, the New York Giants are NFL champions. Just like they did four years ago, they got the better of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots with a 21-17 victory in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday night.
And just like Super Bowl XLII, it took a late fourth-quarter rally led by quarterback Eli Manning, the game s MVP, and another great catch by a backup wide receiver. Four years ago, it was David Tyree sticking the ball to his helmet on the winning touchdown drive . This time, with the Giants down 17-15 at the 3:46 mark and the ball at their 12-yard line, Manning connected with Mario Manningham, who tiptoed down the sideline for a dazzling 38-yard catch.
Operating from midfield, the Giants scored eight plays later on a 6-yard touchdown run by running back Ahmad Bradshaw. After the Giants missed the two-point conversion attempt, Brady and the Patriots had 57 seconds to answer. But even though they converted a fourth-and-16 on the drive, it ended with a failed Hail Mary attempt by Brady as time expired.
The entire script of the rematch was very familiar. The Giants looked like the dominant team early, but then the Patriots looked to be in control after their second of consecutive touchdown drives gave them a 17-9 lead with 11:20 left in the third quarter. New York, however, stayed resilient with two field goals before going ahead for good in the final minute.
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We knew it was going to be this type of game, said Giants left tackle David Diehl, Manning s blindside protector. The last time we played them (the Giants won 24-20 in Week 9), there were five lead changes in the fourth quarter, so we knew we d just have to keep fighting, keep scratching, and when the big opportunity came, we capitalized on it.
The Patriots had overcome an inauspicious offensive start to take a 10-9 halftime lead and Brady helped them keep it late into the fourth quarter.
After they sacked Eli Manning twice to force a punt on the Giants first drive of the game, Brady was called for intentional grounding in the end zone on his first play, dropping back from New England s 6-yard line.
The resulting safety gave the Giants a 2-0 lead, and following the Patriots free kick, Manning led the Giants on a nine-play, 78-yard touchdown drive to give New York an early 9-0 edge.
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