Super Bowl XLVI: Sequel Just As Good As Original

The build up to Super Bowl XLVI was reminiscent of Super Bowl XLII and so was the game.  Once again, Eli Manning put on a show on the NFL's biggest stage, against one of the best QBs in Tom Brady.  Much like 4 years ago, Eli outplayed Brady.  I already here the excuses of dropped passes but like all of us know, if the ball hits your hands, then you are supposed to catch it.  Wes Welker's drop in the 4th quarter wasn't the only reason that Patriots lost.  The Patriots forced 2 fumbles that were recovered by the Giants.  Brady cost his team 2 points by throwing the ball to no one in the middle of the field for a safety and under through a deep pass that was intercepted.  The Patriots cost themselves by having 12 men on the field when they did recover a fumble.  The Patriots looked more like the Raiders by shooting themselves in the foot than the Patriots who are always favored to win.  The Giants made plays when they needed to and the Patriots didn't.

The Giants and Patriots had their own mindset throughout the game.  The Giants played like they wanted to win and it seemed the Patriots played to not lose and hope the Giants would hurt themselves.  Basically, the Patriots tried to play "not to lose" instead of playing to win.  Even win the Patriots had the momentum at the end of the first half and into the 3rd quarter, the Giants never panicked.  The tightened up and went back to playing Giants football.  Whether a run play was called or a pass play, the Giants seemed to want to prove they were the best on every play. The Patriots seemed to be waiting for the Giants to make a mistake that never came. There was no "killer instinct" shown for anyone in a Patriot uniform. The Giants kept the Patriots within striking distance and took advantage.  The Patriots didn't score in the 4th quarter but Eli, once again, led the Giants to another 4th quarter comeback win.  How anyone can fix their mouth to say Eli Manning isn't an elite QB still blows my mind.  Eli has quietly been a top 5 QB in the NFL at the very least.  Eli now has 2 rings.  That's more then Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Payton Manning.  It ties him with Ben Rothlesburger and leaves Eli one short of Tom Brady.  How is that not elite?  The answer is: Eli is very elite and deserves his due.

We didn't get to see a miracle helmet catch this time but Mario Manningham did make a game changing catch to start the drive that ultimately won the game for the Giants.  A beautifully thrown ball from Eli, and Manningham made an over the shoulder grab and got both feet down.  Manningham made a big time catch on the NFL's biggest stage.  You got the feeling at that point that the Giants were going to win.  The Giants showed how to go and win a championship and not sit back and wait for it to come to them.  Very good teams make the playoffs, good teams that get "hot" win championships.  The Giants got hot, just like in 2007, and won the Super Bowl, just like in 2007.  The Giants showed that if it aint broke, don't fix it.

You can talk about dropped passes and missed opportunities but the Giants went into Lucas Oil Stadium and played their game.  Effectively saying that they were not there by accident and here's why.  The Giants played like they were 13-3 and not the 9-7 team they were at the end of the regular season.  The Giants won their way to the NFC East title.  They beat on the Falcons in a very convincing win where Eli out played Matt Ryan.  They beat the defending champion Packers in Green Bay, where Eli outplayed Aaron Rodgers.   The Giants then won a "dog fight" in San Francisco.  When their backs were against the wall, the New York Giants proved, once again, that determination and execution wins championships.  Congrats to the New York Giants!  Champions of the NFL for the 2nd time in four years!  Congrats to Eli Manning for saying he was elite before the season and making everyone else realize they he is, at the end of the season.

D!